Identification accuracy of children versus adults: a meta-analysis.
Identification accuracy of children and adults was examined in a meta-analysis. Preschoolers (M = 4 years) were less likely than adults to make correct identifications. Children over the age of 5 did not differ significantly from adults with regard to correct identification rate. Children of all ages examined were less likely than adults to correctly reject a target-absent lineup. Even adolescents (M = 12-13 years) did not reach an adult rate of correct rejection. Compared to simultaneous lineup presentation, sequential lineups increased the child-adult gap for correct rejections. Providing child witnesses with identification practice or training did not increase their correct rejection rates. Suggestions for children's inability to correctly reject target-absent lineups are discussed. Future directions for identification research are presented.
Pozzulo
J D
JD
Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Lindsay
R C
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003416:Criminal Law; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D014796:Visual Perception