Doctoral Dissertation Research: Eyewitness memory in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

在过去的十年中，被诊断患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的儿童的患病率从150分之一急剧上升到68分之一。这种发病率的上升预示着这些儿童将更多地参与到法律体系中。然而，为获得准确的目击者报告而制定的基于科学的访谈协议，适用于发育正常的儿童，并不适用于自闭症儿童。本研究考察了目前两种儿童法医访谈协议在从有和没有自闭症的青少年（口头）中引出准确和完整的目击者陈述方面的有效性，并确定了目击者记忆表现的个体差异预测因子。9至18岁的儿童，无论是否患有自闭症谱系障碍，都将参加一个记录在案的活动，随后将接受两种法医采访协议中的一种的询问。分析将检查有助于或妨碍准确报告的协议组成部分。这项研究解决了关于残疾、能力和法律的争论。此外，它将扩大科学家对ASD的理论认识（如自我发展理论），并为法律专业人员和事实发现者提供所需的经验信息，以促进真相的发现。

Over the past decade, the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has dramatically risen from 1 in 150 to 1 in 68. Such increases in prevalence foretell greater involvement of these children in the legal system. Yet science-based interview protocols for obtaining accurate eyewitness reports, available for typically developing children, do not exist for children with ASD. This study examines the effectiveness of two current child forensic interview protocols at eliciting accurate and complete eyewitness statements from (verbal) youth with and without ASD, and determines individual difference predictors of eyewitness memory performance. Children, 9- to 18-years-old, with and without ASD, will participate in a documented event and will later be questioned with one of two forensic interview protocols. Analyses will examine components of protocols that aid or impede accurate reports. This study addresses debates about disability, competence, and law. Moreover, it will expand theoretical understanding of ASD (e.g., self-development theory) for scientists and provide needed empirical information for legal professionals and fact finders to facilitate reaching the truth.