How Consistency and Alleged Perpetrator Relationship Affect Adults’ Credibility and Coaching Judgements in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

= 183) read one of six CSA mock-forensic interview transcripts involving a 12-year-old boy giving testimony containing evidence of CSA coaching. The transcripts varied in the consistency of the child's testimony (i.e. consistent or inconsistent) and the child's relationship to the alleged perpetrator (i.e. stepdad, peer, stranger). Results showed that consistent testimony led to higher credibility ratings, whereas inconsistent testimony increased perceptions that the child was coached. The victim-alleged perpetrator relationship did not significantly affect perceptions of credibility of coaching. Overall, these findings indicate that consistency is a powerful cue shaping adults' evaluations of CSA testimony.