The premise of this research is that many young child, as witnesses, become confused by the nature of the questions that investigators ask. The author particularly suggests that the complexity of a lawyer's question can make it difficult for a young child to understand the question. According to the author, the child is likely to answer the question anyway, resulting in many incorrect responses.

The research created a test situation for 180 children, ages 6 and 8. In addition to the control group, the research team constructed other groups which were given different instructions from the control group with respect to how they should respond to questions that they did not understand. In the first of these two groups, children were told that if they didn't understand a question, to say so. In the second, the children actually practiced what the researchers described as "coping strategies" when they arrived at a point where they did not understand what was asked during an interview.

The results were as the researchers predicted. When children were empowered to respond that they didn't understand a question, they were more likely to provide more accurate information than did the control group. Those that were given opportunities before the interview to practice coping strategies, provided even more accurate testimony.