Our textbooks introduce errors due to suggestion on page 228. They give an example of a transcript taken from a criminal situation where an eyewitness was led to believe (through the way the question was worded) that the criminal was, in fact, part of the line-up. This is only one example where suggestion created bias and false information. This blog is about the suggestibility in children; more specifically in criminal cases.
According to an article published on Umkc.edu, there have been studies conducted by social scientists regarding misleading questions in children’s cases. The case that brought about this concern for further study was the Case of State of New Jersey v. Michaels in 1994. The article discusses research on children’s suggestibility, like the effects of interviewer bias on children’s reports. It discusses child abuse cases where the wording of interview questions greatly influenced the responses from these children.
Not only does wording affect the response of a question, but it could also cause false memories that had never happened. Repeating a question, whether it’s worded differently or not, could create a false memory also. This could bias a later interviewing, even up to a year later, where children remember the suggestions (Umkc.edu).
Another approach that has been used in child questioning is using peer pressure, like stating that their friends have already told, so it’s okay if they tell too. Using an emotional tone, or bribes and rewards could greatly suggest certain outcomes from child interviews. Most children seek to please authority figures out of fear or approval, and are open to suggestion, especially if it provokes a positive response…like positive reinforcement.
It’s also quite common in child abuse cases that anatomically correct dolls are used in questioning. This causes suggestion by asking children to point to areas of abuse, whether or not a child was, in fact, sexually abused. This encourages sexual responses. Also, it is not clear as to whether or not a child’s curiosity of the novelty of the doll provokes certain responses as well.
In conclusion, children are more susceptible to suggestion for numerous reasons. There are many ways an interviewer, whether a child psychologist, police officer, etc., can use suggestion in questioning a child. These reports would prove unreliable in court and could also cause harmful implications to the child. Careful wording, questioning, and approach is needed when dealing with these highly sensitive matters.
Works Cited

Goldstein, E. (2011). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research, and everyday experience (3rd ed., pp. 228-230). Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
The Suggestibility of Children: An Evaluation by Social Scientists. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2015, from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcmartin/suggestibility.html