Two experiments examined the effectiveness of non-verbal interview aids as means of increasing the amount of information children report about an event under conditions designed to mimic their use in the field. In the first study, 27 5-7-year-old children took part in an event, and 7-10 days later were interviewed using the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Protocol interview followed by an opportunity to draw the event or complete puzzles and, in turn, a second verbal interview. New information was reported following both drawing and puzzles and accuracy declined in both conditions, but drawing did not differentially influence recall. In the second experiment, dolls or human figure diagrams were introduced to clarify children's (N = 53) reports of touch as recommended in by some professionals, with a verbal interview serving as a control. Props did not increase the amount of information reported compared with best practice verbal techniques, but nor did they elevate errors. The findings support the use of a second recall attempt, but do not support the use of non-verbal aids, even when these are used following professional recommendations.

<p>The current study aimed to investigate the utility of HFDs and dolls in memory interviews about a touch event. Fifty-three children aged 5 to 7 years experienced a staged event involving innocuous touch. They were interviewed 7 to 11 days later either with a purely verbal interview, the assistance of HFDs, or the assistance of dolls. No significant differences were found in the amount or accuracy of information reported in each interview type, though information was highly accurate in all conditions. This indicates that although props did not offer any additional facilitation to eliciting information from children than verbal interview alone, they also were not harmful to the children's reports. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are discussed.</p>

<p>The current study aimed to investigate the utility of HFDs and dolls in memory interviews about a touch event. Fifty-three children aged 5 to 7 years experienced a staged event involving innocuous touch. They were interviewed 7 to 11 days later either with a purely verbal interview, the assistance of HFDs, or the assistance of dolls. No significant differences were found in the amount or accuracy of information reported in each interview type, though information was highly accurate in all conditions. This indicates that although props did not offer any additional facilitation to eliciting information from children than verbal interview alone, they also were not harmful to the children's reports. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are discussed.</p>