How Cross-Examination on Subjectivity and Bias Affects Jurors’ Evaluations of Forensic Science Evidence

38 Pages Posted: 5 Feb 2019

See all articles by William C. Thompson

William C. Thompson

University of California, Irvine - Department of Criminology, Law and Society

Nicholas Scurich

University of California, Irvine - School of Social Ecology

Date Written: January 22, 2019

Abstract

Contextual bias has been widely discussed as a possible problem in forensic science. The trial simulation experiment reported here examined reactions of jurors at a county courthouse to cross-examination and arguments about contextual bias in a hypothetical case. We varied whether the key prosecution witness (a forensic odontologist) was cross-examined about the subjectivity of his interpretations and about his exposure to potentially biasing task-irrelevant information. Jurors found the expert less credible and were less likely to convict when the expert admitted that his interpretation rested on subjective judgment, and when he admitted having been exposed to potentially biasing task-irrelevant contextual information (relative to when these issues were not raised by the lawyers). The findings suggest, however, that forensic scientists can immunize themselves against such challenges, and maximize the weight jurors give their evidence, by adopting context management procedures that blind them to task-irrelevant information.

Suggested Citation

Thompson, William C. and Scurich, Nicholas, How Cross-Examination on Subjectivity and Bias Affects Jurors’ Evaluations of Forensic Science Evidence (January 22, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3320824 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3320824

William C. Thompson

University of California, Irvine - Department of Criminology, Law and Society ( email )

Irvine, CA
United States

Nicholas Scurich (Contact Author)

University of California, Irvine - School of Social Ecology ( email )

4312 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway
Irvine, CA 92697
United States

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