You, a Clinical Psychologist, Have Been Called in to Do

Multiple Choice

You, a clinical psychologist, have been called in to do a preliminary assessment of a 12-year-old girl who is allegedly the victim of sexual abuse by the mother's boyfriend. You know you have your work cut out for you, but your immediate challenge is how to deal with the existing file's conflicting versions of events given by different parties. Whose account, or all of them or none of them, should you give the most weight to in preparing your own report, which is due the day after tomorrow?

A) The child's. She is the one who was traumatized and would have no reason to lie about who was responsible.
B) The mother's. She loves her child and wants nothing more than to see the perpetrator punished.
C) The teacher's. Unlike the mother, she is specially trained to diagnose and deal with children's problems. As a licensed professional, her account would be the most credible.
D) The prosecuting attorney's. The DA prosecuting the case would not be doing so without sufficient evidence that he or she has the right suspect and all the facts necessary to bring a conviction.
E) None of the above.