A Mega-Analysis of the Effects of Feedback on the Quality of Simulated Child Sexual Abuse Interviews with Avatars

Abstract The present study aimed to test the effectiveness of giving feedback on simulated avatar interview training (Avatar Training) across different experiments and participant groups explore effect professional parenting experience by conducting a mega-analysis previous studies. A total 2,208 interviews containing 39,950 recommended 36,622 non-recommended questions from 394 participants including European Japanese students, psychologists, police officers nine studies were included in mega-analysis. Experimental conditions dummy-coded, all dependent variables coded same way as previously published Professional dichotomous used moderation analyses. Linear mixed effects analyses demonstrated robust increasing decreasing questions, improving quality details elicited avatar, reaching correct conclusion regarding suspected abuse. Round-wise comparisons involving showed continued increase decrease questions. Those with (vs. without) improved faster group. These findings provide strong support for efficacy Avatar Training.