| Clinical child interviews have received little attention in the psychological literature. Current interview practices, in the absence of empirical findings, are primarily based on clinical lore. This study investigated the effects of two variables, interviewing style and interviewer clothing, on the quantity and quality of information obtained from 8 to 11 year-olds in a standardized clinical analogue interview. Two interviewers saw a total of 64 boys and girls, selected from a normal school population. The design included three independent variables: "warm" or "reserved" interviewing style, formally or casually dressed interviewer, and male or female children. The results of the study showed no differences for any of the experimental variables on the dependent measures of self-disclosure, amount of speech, problem admissions, listing of reinforcers, and rated liking of the interview. Significant correlations were found between children's grade level and several of the dependent measures. Maturational level of the children, preinterview mental set, the brevity of the interview, and measurement issues were suggested as possible explanations of the unsuspected findings. Previous recommendations for maximizing the effectiveness of child interviews were questioned in light of the obtained lack of significant differences between interview styles. |
