Full title in original language:
The forensic confirmation bias: Problems, perspectives, and proposed solutions
Education level:
University University (18+ years)Topic / subtopic:
Cybercrime Cybercrime investigationTarget audience:
Students,
Teachers / Lecturers
Type of resource:
Publication / Article
Languages:
English
Region of relevance:
Global
Access:
restricted access: requiring payment
Individual authors:
Saul M. Kassina, Itiel E. Drorb, Jeff Kukuckaa
Publication year:
2013
Published by:
Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Copyright holder:
© Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Contact name and address:
Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Contact website:
Key themes:
cybercrime, cybercrime investigation, forensics, forensic, crime, investigation
Links:
Short description:
As illustrated by the mistaken, high-profile fingerprint identification of Brandon Mayfield in the Madrid Bomber case, and consistent with a recent critique by the National Academy of Sciences (2009), it is clear that the forensic sciences are subject to contextual bias and fraught with error. In this article, the authors describe classic psychological research on primacy, expectancy effects, and observer effects, all of which indicate that context can taint people's perceptions, judgments, and behaviours. Then they describe recent studies indicating that confessions and other types of information can set into motion forensic confirmation biases that corrupt lay witness perceptions and memories as well as the judgments of experts in various domains of forensic science. Finally, they propose best practices that would reduce bias in the forensic laboratory as well as its influence in the courts.