“Talking” computers: A reliable and private method to conduct interviews on sensitive topics with children

Abstract

To obtain valid results, interviews on sex‐related topics not only require confidentiality but also privacy. However, the typical solutions to this problem, self‐administered questionnaires or telephone interviews, may not be appropriate for pre‐ and early adolescents who may require face‐to‐face (FTF) interviews. In this research, we tested the hypothesis that interviews delivered by talking computers would elicit more reports of sexual experience and positive feelings toward sex than FTF interviews with children. To test the hypothesis, we compared the results of both interview methods administered to separate samples of 300 and 96 Black children ages 9 to 15 living in public housing. The results supported the hypothesis. In addition, a subsample of the children (n = 31) who had completed both interviews reported more favorable feelings toward sex in the computer interview. Computer interviews were reliable and did not produce higher levels of missing responses than FTF interviews. The results suggest that talking computers can be used with children across a wide age range to deliver a more private interview than FTF interviewing permits.