Do children really mean what they say? The forensic implications of preschoolers' linguistic referencing

This study compared younger (M=53 months) and older (M=90 months) children's use of linguistic referential devices to make a positive identification. Children were shown a 4-minute video that concluded with a wrongful act. They were interviewed 24 hours later and asked to identify the perpetrator of the wrongful act with open-ended and directive questions. Younger children were significantly more likely to fail to provide any pertinent information (p