Appendix A
ITEMS ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE WRONGLY ACCUSED
(The actual questionnaire was 7 pages long, with space between the
questions for responding.)
We want to get a full view of the effects of Child Protective Service's
actions on families it investigates for child abuse. In order to do so we
need to become aware of your experiences. Please answer these questions to
the best of your ability. If you run out of space on the front, please
continue on the back. Please be assured that all responses will be kept
completely confidential and are to be used only for the purposes of this
study.
| 1) |
Briefly state the event and or situations that led to the
investigation. |
| 2) |
What were your feelings when you first became aware of being accused
of child abuse? |
| 3) |
What were some of the feelings you were going through while
being investigated. |
| 4) |
Did the investigation affect your relationship with the
following?
| a. neighbors: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| b. family: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| c. your children: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| d. co-workers: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| e. your children's school: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| f. families of your children's playmates: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
|
| 5) |
Have you noticed a change in your feelings between you and the
following?
| a. neighbors: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| b. family: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| c. your children: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| d. co-workers: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| e. your children's school: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
| f. families of your children's playmates: |
yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
|
| 6) |
Did the investigation affect or change your views on
child-rearing in general?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, please describe how. |
|
| 7) |
Due to your experiences with the investigation, did you become
less certain of yourself?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, please explain. |
|
| 8) |
How much control did you feel you had over the investigative
process?
| none [ ] |
very little [ ] |
moderate [ ] |
very much [ ] |
extreme [ ] |
|
| 9) |
How much difficulty did you have in dealing with your emotions
as a result of the investigation?
| none [ ] |
very little [ ] |
moderate [ ] |
very much [ ] |
extreme [ ] |
|
| 10) |
Did the investigation change any plans you had for your family at the time it occurred?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
|
| 11) |
How much emphasis did the Child Protective Service put on
gathering unbiased facts during the investigation?
| none [ ] |
very little [ ] |
moderate [ ] |
very much [ ] |
extreme [ ] |
|
| 12) |
Do you feel the Child Protective Service's investigative
process caused you any reputational damage?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
|
| 13) |
Do you feel the investigation affected your job security?
| no [ ] |
very little [ ] |
moderately [ ] |
very much [ ] |
extremely [ ] |
|
| 14) |
What kind of education do you feel the Child Protective Service
workers you encountered had?
[ ] High School graduate
[ ] Bachelor's degree in unrelated field
[ ] Bachelor's degree in related field
[ ] Master's degree in unrelated field
[ ] Master's degree in related field
[ ] Doctorate
[ ] Other
|
| 15) |
How do you feel the skill of the Child Protective Service
workers affected the investigation? |
| 16) |
All organizations have inefficiencies; do you feel the Child
Protective Service recognizes its own inefficiencies?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, in what ways? |
|
| 17) |
Did you have any objections about the investigation?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If no, go to question 20. If yes, go to question 18 |
|
| 18) |
Did you voice any of these objections to the Child Protective
Service?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If no, go to question 20. If yes, go to question 19 |
|
| 19) |
How did the Child Protective Service handle your objections? |
| 20) |
Was the Child Protective Service helpful to you?
If yes: In what ways was the Child Protective Service helpful to
you?
In what other ways could the Child Protective Service have been
more helpful to you?
If no: In what ways could the Child Protective
Service have been helpful to you? |
| 21) |
Overall, has the Child Protective Service caused you any harm
as a result of the investigative process?
If yes, did you receive an apology for it?
|
| 22) |
What was the last stage you reached in the investigative
process? |
| 23) |
What do you think made the Child Protective Service stop their
investigation? |
| 24) |
Do you feel the Child Protective Service had any preconceptions
about your family when beginning the investigation?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, what were they? |
|
| 25) |
How do you feel about responding to this questionnaire? |
| 26) |
What are your reactions to being asked about your experience
with the investigation? |
| 27) |
Have your reactions changed over time?
| yes [ ] |
no [ ] |
If yes, how? |
|
