APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY App!. Cognit. Psycho!. 14: 197-213 (2000) Testimony and Evidence: A Scientific Case Study of Memory for Child Sexual Abuse SUE BIDROSEI and GAIL S. GOODMAN2* 'University of Otago, New Zealand 2University of California, Davis, USA SUMMARY Although case studies can provide insight into children's eyewitness memory, the typical lack of objective record limits evaluation of accuracy. In contrast. in this 'scientific case study', a detailed record of child sexual assault, documented by a 'sex ring' leader and confiscated by police, was available. In police interviews and courtroom hearings. four girls (8 to 15 years old at time of report) testified about sexual exploitation that involved eight adult men. The girls allegations were compared with evidence contained in photographic and audiotaped records of the abuse. Overall, there was supportive evidence for about 80% of the allegations (85.6% of the alleged sexual acts; 42.9% of the alleged coerci