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Publication
Laypeople's decision-making in reporting child maltreatment: Child and family characteristics as a source of bias
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Objectives: The process of reporting child maltreatment may be vulnerable to judgment bias, which may,
in turn, affect the various stages of the child protection system continuum. In this study, we examine the
role of child (gender, race/ethnicity, and age) and family characteristics (family structure and socioeconomic status) in laypeople’s severity assessment and probability of referral of child maltreatment (abuse
or neglect). Method: Participants responded to a questionnaire presenting vignettes of abuse or neglect
(based on Portuguese legal standards) that varied in the characteristics of the child and the family and
assessed either the severity of abuse or severity of neglect, and the probability of referral of each
situation. Results: Results indicated pervasive bias. Despite acknowledging the severity of both abuse
and neglect situations, the likelihood of reporting maltreatment was higher (a) for female, younger,
White, and Black children compared with male, older children and children of Roma ethnicity; and (b)
for families with economic difficulties, divorced, single parent, and stepfamilies compared with nuclear
families. Conclusions: These results emphasize the importance of studying the referral process of child
maltreatment at a community level. We suggest that public awareness may facilitate the referral of
maltreatment, minimizing the overreporting and underreporting of cases and encouraging early and
preventive intervention.
Description
Keywords
Reporting child maltreatment Laypeople’s decision-making Judgment bias Type of maltreatment Child and family characteristics
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Calheiros, M. M., Garrido, M. V., Ferreira, M. B., & Duarte, C. (2020). Laypeople’s decision-making in reporting child maltreatment: Child and family characteristics as a source of bias. Psychology of violence, 10(6), 638-647. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000342