The Kenyan Survivors of Sexual Violence Network

Preserving Memory Evidence with a Bespoke Mobile Application to Increase Access to Vital Services and Justice

Bibliographic Data

ID13024979
AuthorsLaura M Stevens (0000-0002-4968-6854, University of Birmingham), Elena Reid (University of Birmingham), Wangu Kanja, Sarah Rockowitz (0000-0002-2759-8052, University of Birmingham), Kari Davies (0000-0003-1782-7437, Bournemouth University), Shanaya Dosanjh (University of Warwick), Brooke Findel (University of Birmingham), Heather D Flowe (0000-0001-5343-5313, University of Birmingham, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume12
Issue1
Pages12-12
Publication date2022-01-18
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocieties (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2075-4698 • E-ISSN: 2075-4698
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/soc12010012
OpenAlexW4205463944
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited38

Police interviews gather detailed information from witnesses about the perpetrator that is crucial for solving crimes. Research has established that interviewing witnesses immediately after the crime maintains memory accuracy over time. However, in some contexts, such as in conflict settings and low-income countries, witness interviews occur after long delays, which decreases survivors’ access to vital services and justice. We investigated whether an immediate interview via a mobile phone application (SV_CaseStudy Mobile Application, hereafter MobApp) developed by the Kenyan Survivors of Sexual Violence Network preserves people’s memory accuracy over time. Participants (N = 90) viewed a mock burglary and were then interviewed either immediately using MobApp or MobApp+ (which included additional questions about the offender’s behaviour) and again one week later (n = 60), or solely after a one-week delay (n = 30). We found that memory accuracy one week later was higher for participants immediately interviewed with MobApp or MobApp+ compared to those interviewed solely after a one-week delay. Additionally, memory accuracy was maintained for those interviewed with the mobile application across the one-week period. These findings indicate that the mobile phone application is promising for preserving memory accuracy in contexts where crimes are reported to the police after a delay

Advertising · Bespoke · Business · Computer security · Criminal justice · Criminology · Economic Justice · Interview · Kenya · Mobile phone · Political science · Sexual violence · Witness · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies · Privacy, Security, and Data Protection · Psychology · Social Psychology

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