Abstract
A common component of interviewing protocols and practice guidelines are ground rules that the interviewer presents toward the beginning of the interview, including "don't know", "don't understand", and "interviewer ignorance". Ground rules are a set of instructions that make communication expectations explicit. They are included in all mainstream interviewing guidance documents for interviews with children. These provide a type of coordination between the interviewer and the child. This chapter discusses the latest research on ground rules. The authors note that "Saywitz's work laid an important foundation for the evidence base under pinning the use of ground rules". Their review stresses the importance of practicing ground rules, but also notes their limitations, particularly with younger children. The chapter emphasizes the overarching importance of asking the right questions during the substantive phase of the interview and calls for much-needed research on how to make instructions more effective.