Answer :
Final answer:
Understanding the four stages of child development, especially in terms of cognitive development, is beneficial in investigative interviews. It helps in crafting age-appropriate questions, accurately interpreting child's responses, and avoiding mistakes that might harm the investigation and the child's well-being.
Explanation:
Investigative interviews certainly benefit from understanding the four stages of child development, specifically cognitive development, as put forward by Jean Piaget. These stages are the sensorimotor stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the formal operational stage. Knowledge of these stages can guide investigators in using age-appropriate questioning and can help them interpret a child's responses accurately.
For example, children in the concrete operational stage (around 7 to 11 years old) can think logically about real events. Thus, during an investigative interview, an interviewer would tailor their questions and interpret responses with this cognitive ability in mind. Alternatively, children in the preoperational stage (roughly 2 to 7 years old) might not fully understand logic and may also be susceptible to leading questions, so interviewers need to be cautious to avoid suggestive language or cues.
A lack of understanding of these developmental stages could lead to inaccurate conclusions drawn from a child's statements or behaviors, potentially damaging both the investigation and the child's well-being. Therefore, having an understanding of these stages in child development proves beneficial in investigative interviews.
Learn more about Child Development in Investigative Interviews here:
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