In the mid-1980s, the nation's media focused on the McMartin preschool in Los Angeles, where children claimed to have been hung in trees, raped, and forced to eat feces

Although none of the children had shown symptoms or problems during their preschool experience, most of the accused teachers were sentenced to years in prison. What has research revealed about the accuracy of children's testimony in cases such as this? Under what conditions are children apt to be suggestible?
What will be an ideal response?

Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
• Research has revealed that the extreme positions exemplified by the statements, "children always lie" and "children never lie," are wrong.
• Children do recollect accurately much of what they have observed or experienced.
• Children can also be influenced by leading questions and suggestions from the interviewer.
• Influence techniques like telling the children what "other kids" had supposedly said, expressing disappointment if answers are negative, and praising children for making allegations are likely to increase suggestibility in children.
• Younger children are more susceptible to influence techniques than older children.