Why are you so amusing, kids?

From a historical standpoint, children have left a legacy in the way they respond to inquiries. Even if the question is rhetorical, children have no trouble finding responses. They will always respond to any question by utilizing numerous perspective variables. Scientists’ research into children’s conduct has been fairly astounding, with children appearing to have a variety of opinions dependent on any subject addressed. We will assess children’s responses to numerous questions asked in this study. We shall also investigate adults to adult’s responses and compare the answers to those of child to child answers.

Introduction

In this study, we shall write a report on forensic psychology whereby a research is conducted to indicate children behavior and response to any question posed to them. The aspect of a fair idea will help to give an overview to the researcher about the legal issues and handling of the kids. It will give the reader the information as to why asking children some questions would not be necessary (Bleu, 2015). In the research, there is a conduction of an interview with children and adults. A comparison of their answers is also illustrated using different techniques. For instance, responses from a child and adults are compared, and analysis is done from where a conclusion is drawn.

An investigation of a child and another child is done, and both answers are collected. The comparison is made, and recording of answers for statistical references is done. The main question asked in this research is “which among these mosquitoes is a female? ”The study gives an overview of all the results provided by the adults and the children for deeper analysis for psychological comprehension. After interviewing the selected individuals, a hypothesis is conducted to answer questions on either null or alternative hypothesis. The variables will also be noted depending on the age of the child and the adults.

The mode of asking a question whether the interviewers were standing or sitting down, there are also factors such as whether the interview was conducted inside or outside the room. All these variables are analyzed, and results are provided. Selection of a family member whether a child or an adult will also be another factor to consider during the investigation of answering the given question. After finishing the interview, the results are recorded in a table depending on what answers were given from either of the interviewees.

The recording is done to compare the results and be able to come up with a conclusion. The issue of forensic psychology is noted from the investigation of both the adults and the children based on their answers (Franco, 2012). The interview takes a stipulated duration of one hour giving the interviewee a chance to respond to the questions. In the report, the researcher will analyze the methodology to use while interviewing the children and the adults following a discussion about the results. In the study, interpretation of the results from the table is made based on the response from all the interviewees as in the illustrations below.

Methodology

The researcher uses the questionnaire and interviewing method to conduct the research. It is whereby the interviewers are hosted in a particular hall and requested to answer the question given. The question is ”Which among these mosquitoes is a female? A sample of 2 mosquitoes is taken and kept on two plastic lids. One mosquito is placed on a blue cover and the other one on a pink cap. The researcher aims to get answers from the children and the adults. Factors to consider when conducting the research are if the interviewee replied to the question was standing or sitting?

These are the variables taken into consideration when the research is conducted. Evaluation of the age of the children is also a factor to consider evaluating the answers given (Greene & Hogan, 2005). Questionnaire method is found to be simple in the research as is less time to consume and involve oral response without having the interviewee write anything. It is thus, efficient and effective particularly when children below seven years are taken for an interview. The researcher suggests that children’s on playing around with children’s psychology for them to concentrate during the interview. Promising to buy them cars or giving them sweet to capture their attention seems to work for this researcher.

A sample of 2 children is taken and two adults. One child and one adult are family members of the researcher who is, in this case, interviewing them. Taking of the responses and jotting them down on paper is conducted after every questionnaire that is answered from either of the interviewees (Greene & Hogan, 2005). The methodology is considered to be relatively accurate as direct answers were taken from the interviewer’s responses. However, there is a limitation of lack of corporation from the children whereby they are not attentive and have to be soothed to give answers. It is also not easy to interpret what a child of 3 years meant from the response which might lead to the recording of inaccurate details.

Results

From the research conducted, the table below indicates the responses of all the interviewees on the question.

Table 1: The table illustrates the response of children compared to those of the adults

Question

Child 1

Child 2

Adult 1

Adult 2

Which mosquito is a female? One on blue or on pink

One in pink

One in blue

I can’t be able to tell

I do not know

Explanation

Because my mom’s car is of color pink and my dad’s car is the color blue. So the mosquito on pink blue must be a woman

Because am a girl and I love blue. So the mosquito on blue lid must be a girl like me

No explanation

No explanation

Table 2 Show the age of the interviewee and relationship with the interviewer

Variables

Child 1

Child 2

Adult 1

Adult 2

Age

3

6

40

23

Relationship with the interviewer

Family member

Neighbor

Neighbor

Family member

Place of interview

Enclosed house

Enclosed house

Enclosed house

Enclosed house

Outside

Outside

Outside

Outside

The results indicate that children below six years of age will answer any question regardless if it needs the answer or not (Sadlovsky, 2010). According to the children, there is no need to conduct research or an investigation to answer any questions since they have a valid explanation to their answers. The results indicate that adults are puzzled about the sex of either of the mosquitoes and can’t be able to tell which the female mosquito is by just looking at it.

The adults suggest of doing further studies to come up with a conclusion of which is a female and which is a male (Smith, 2014). However, children have confidence in their answers and are explaining their answers without hesitation which indicates the forensic psychological behavior on children. Children are also observed to have concentration when questioned indoors as opposed to outdoors whereby they are likely to concentrate on nature issues. Adults seem to have no change whether the questionnaire is done indoors or outdoors.

Discussion

From the above research conduction, it can be reported that children don’t mind what question one ask as they will always provide answers to it (Waterman et al., 2001). According to psychologist’s scholars, it has been observed that children will be able to tell lies and adults will not manage to detect any lie from their facial expression. He argues that as early as three years of age, children are capable of answering any question in any form whether it’s true or a lie (Westcott et al., 2002). The same case applies to any question posed to a child.

The child will have the confidence to utter anything in response to the posed question without any fear of guilty or making any mistake (Davies & Beech, 2017). Lewis suggests that this behavior is commonly on young children below seven years of age whose conscious is not yet developed. However, as children grow from seven years old to 12 years, there is the essence of the feeling of guilt and realizing when one does wrong (Westcott et al., 2002). Westcott et al. argue that instinct becomes lively and the child can be noted when telling lies or not. The facial expression and other physical attributes will betray the child in case he/she is telling a lie.

The psychologists argue that there is a big difference between a toddler child of age four and a child aged nine whereby these children will have differences in responding to various questions (Gudjonsson & Haward, 2016). In the research conducted in this study, an evaluation of 3 years old child is carried out and another one of 6 years. When we compare the result depending on age, we can see these children appear to be both innocents (Waterman et al., 2001). They just respond to the question depending on their perspectives and the observations they have been making throughout their lives. As for the adults, it is hard for them to answer such a question without deeper examination for analysis.

Children don’t fear when explaining their ideas, and the answers are valid and reasonable. The relationship of a child with the interviewer doesn’t have any impact on the response given from either of the children (Mason, 2016). Therefore, being a family member to a child will not have the effect of his or her response according to this investigation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, children are capable of responding to any question that seems meaningless or ambiguous and provides valid support to their answers. According to recent research conducted by psychologists Lewis, children can be able to lie and convince someone to be real without being noted. Forensic psychology helps the researcher determine the essence of children growth and development and the challenges they face as they grow. There is also the explanation in various theories on the reasons as to why children would respond to any question posed to them.

References

Bleu, P. (2015). Mom Life: A Snarky Adult Coloring Book (Humorous Coloring Books For Grown- Ups). Leuless Publishers Limited.

Crighton, D. A., British Psychological, S., & Towl, G. J. (2015). Forensic Psychology. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

Davies, G., & Beech, A. R. (2017). Forensic Psychology: Crime, Justice, Law, Interventions. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.

Franco, B. (2012). Q&A a Day for Kids: United States: Potter Style; Jou edition.

Greene, S., & Hogan, D. (2005). Researching Children’s Experience: Approaches and Methods. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Gudjonsson, G. H., & Haward, L. C. (2016). Forensic Psychology: A Guide to Practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Hughes, M., & Grieve, R. (1980). On Asking Children Bizarre Questions. First Language, 1(2), 149. doi:10.1177/014272378000100205

Masson, T. R. (2016). Inside Forensic Psychology. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger.

Sadlovsky, J. R. (2010). Coloring Book (Humorous Coloring Books For Grown- Ups). Slow press.

Smith, P. (2014). Dare to Matter: Choosing an Unstuck and Unapologetic Life of Significance. Petel press.

Waterman, A., Blades, M., & Spencer, C. (2001). Is a jumper angrier than a tree? Psychologist -Leicester-, 14474-483.

Westcott, H. L., Davies, G. M., & Bull, R. C. (2002). How and Why Do Children Respond to Nonsensical Questions?. Children’s Testimony, 147. doi:10.1002/9780470713679.

Appendices

Table 1 illustrates the response of children compared to those of the adults

Table 2 Shows the age of the interviewee and relationship with the interviewer