With Support, Children Can Accurately Sequence Within-Event Components

Accurate event sequencing can add critical detail to a child's account. However, our knowledge of sequencing in childhood to date primarily centers on distinct events separated by time. Sequencing a single event's components is also important, perhaps particularly in a forensic context. In two experiments, we explored children's ability to recall the sequence of a past event using a variety of prompts. In Experiment 1, 124 children (6-8 years) and Experiment 2, 96 children (6-8 years) attended a 45-min workshop with four (Exp. 1) or five (Exp. 2) distinct components. Children were asked to sequence the components using different retrieval strategies (Exp. 1 within-subjects; Exp. 2 between-subjects). Children had difficulty reporting within-event sequential order in response to open-ended prompts but with sufficient visual supports, children were able to provide accurate information about the sequencing of within-event components.