Rapport Building in Dog-Assisted Interviews
Abstract
Description
Establishing rapport is an essential component of forensic interviewing. Rapport building increases the likelihood that a witness will provide detailed, accurate information in an interview. Dog-assisted forensic interviewing has become increasingly common with the assumption that the presence of a dog may bolster witness rapport and comfort while discussing emotional events. However, researchers have yet to empirically examine whether rapport and comfort vary as a function of dog-assisted interviewing. In the present study, undergraduate participants (N = 101) were randomly assigned to dog present or dog absent interview conditions. Participants were interviewed about positive and negative autobiographical events. Participants rated their level of rapport and comfort with the interviewer while discussing the autobiographical events. Interviewers also rated their level of rapport and comfort with the participant during the interview. Participants reported higher levels of rapport and comfort with the interviewer when the dog was present versus absent (see Table 1). Interviewers also expressed higher rates of rapport and comfort with the participant when the dog was present versus absent (see Table 2). Results provide novel evidence that dog-assisted interviewing bolsters rapport and comfort between the interviewer and witness.
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