Effects of witness characteristics on the perception and reportage of child abuse.
Vignettes depicting the physical mistreatment, psychological mistreatment and neglect of children were used in an experimental design to test for bias in perception and reportage of child abuse. Subjects were 160 jurors and 176 child protective service (CPS) and police personnel. Jurors born before 1945 were less critical of such mistreatment than those born later. Female jurors pledged to report mistreatment more often than did male jurors, and they pledged to report the abuse of a female victim more often than a male victim. The other groups did not show this bias in reporting. Findings might explain discrepancies between studies of the incidence of child abuse and reportage of it.
Kean
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Colorado Springs Police Department, CO 80920.
Dukes
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D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012926:Social Control, Formal