Accuracy of disclosure and contextual control in child abuse: Developing procedures within the stimulus equivalence paradigm

Lack of reliable, nonintrusive disclosure techniques remains an obstacle in child abuse investigations. This article explores the role that contextual cues play in the development of stimulus equivalence procedures. 8 6-9-yr-olds were exposed to verifiable social experiences and then trained to respond differentially to 2 arbitrary stimuli. Phases 1-3 of the experiment began with a role-play in the laboratory. In Phase 1, the role-play was followed by conditional discrimination training; selecting arbitrary stimulus (SAS), while selecting arbitrary stimulus in the presence of other role-play stimuli was reinforced. In Phase 2, the role-play was followed by a testing procedure. In Phase 3, the 2 arbitrary stimuli were established as contextual cues. Following the role-play, accurate disclosure was reinforced in the presence of (SAS), while inaccurate disclosure was reinforced in the presence of (SAS). In Phase 4, a prearranged role-play took place at each child's home. Using the arbitrary stimuli as contextual cues, children were tested for accurate and inaccurate verbal accounts. All Ss achieved 100% correct responses in Phases 1-3. Four of the 8 Ss scored 100% in Phase 4, whereas the remaining Ss scored between 67% and 94%. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)