Forensic psychologists are charged with tasks such as determining adjudicative competency, risk of future dangerousness, insanity, suitability for child custody, and competence to waive Miranda rights. As a forensic interviewer, your observations provide a roadmap for the work of forensic psychologists. Forensic psychologists and court personnel depend on the accuracy of documentation.
An MSE helps you organize your observations. It is structured around traits and behaviors, such as appearance, mood/affect, speech/language, thought process, thought content, and perception. An MSE may include any questions that shed light on these traits and behaviors. In this Discussion, you analyze the use and benefits of an MSE with two different suspect/witness types.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Read the chapter in the LeBlond et al. text. Pay close attention to Section 1 regarding the MSE.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/244950/modules/items/10678207
Read the Polanski article, and note the section on the use of the MSE across cultures and age groups.
Post a response to the following:
How does an MSE prepare a forensic psychologist for an interview with an individual with cognitive impairment as opposed to a person without such an impairment? Discuss which component(s) of the MSE you believe is/are most valuable when working with each population, and why. Which items on the MSE may stimulate follow-up questioning, and why? What interview strategies would a forensic psychologist consider when working with each population?
Note: Support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and any additional sources you identify using both in-text citations and complete references in APA format.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ initial Discussion assignment postings in one or more of the following ways:
Expand on your colleague’s analysis of the use and benefits of the MSE for a certain interviewee-type. Offer an alternative perspective on your colleague’s posting. Ask a probing question and provide insight into how you would answer your question and why. Ask a probing question, and provide the foundation, or rationale, for the question. Expand on your colleague’s posting by offering a new perspective or insight. Agree with a colleague and offer additional (new) supporting information for consideration. Disagree with a colleague by respectfully discussing and supporting a different perspective.