Bias in Forensic Science

Question 1

When we have two conflicting beliefs, we aim to resolve one or both of them by altering either our belief or behaviour. This is called:

Answer 1

Cognitive dissonance

(To put it colloquially - “justifying being a hypocrite”)

Question 2

Molly offers to give me a cigarette if I skip school with her, but Sonia reminds me that we have an important test to study for. I am torn between going with Molly because she will boost my popularity, and Sonya because I think my education is important. I decide to go with Molly because I want to show her I can be cool. This is an example of:

Answer 2

Cognitive dissonance

(There are two conflicting beliefs: that smoking with Molly will help me become popular, and that skipping the test will affect my education. I resolve the conflict by choosing one belief (that I need to be popular) over the other (that education is important.))

Question 3

Making decisions based on the information around me is called:

Answer 3

Bottom-up processing

Question 4

I see Molly crying outside after school, but I remember everyone telling me she cries all the time for no reason. I decide to leave her alone instead of consoling her. is this:

Bottom-up decision making, or
Top-down decision making?

Answer 4

Top-down decision making.

(Top-down processing means using prior knowledge to make decisions. In this case, I make the decision not to console Molly because of my prior knowledge about why she is crying.)

Question 5

I see Molly crying outside after school. I think that something big must have happened and that she probably needs a hug, so I decide to go console her. Is this:

Top-down decision making or
Bottom-up decision making?

Answer 5

Bottom-up decision making

Bottom-up processing means using present knowledge to guide decision making. In this case, I make the decision to console Molly because to me crying = something bad has happened.)

Question 6

Which type of processing helps us decipher ambiguous information?

Answer 6

Top-down processing (using prior knowledge)

Question 7

Sometimes our decisions are guided by peripheral factors.This is known as:

Answer 7

Contextual bias

Question 8

I am a juror evaluating the trial of a woman who is accused of murdering her husband. The defence argues that she was experiencing an episode of psychosis and was not in her right mind. However, I read in the news earlier that day that she frequently argued with him, and was arrested previously for petty crime. I decide she must be guilty. This is an example of:

Answer 8

Contextual bias

(My job as a juror is to reach a verdict based on the evidence (that the defendant was experiencing psychosis) provided in court. However, I have allowed external factors (knowledge about her relationship and criminal history) affect my decision making.)

Question 9

The main difference in Dror et al. (2005) and Osborne & Zajac’s (2016) experiments on contextual bias in forensics was:

a) the number of participants used
b) The study design (between or within-subjects)
c) the nature of the contextual information

Answer 9

c - the nature of the contextual information

Question 10

Experts of forensics are less susceptible to bias than everyday people. True or false?

Answer 10

False

(The cost of expertise is the tendency to make snap judgments and filter out seemingly irrelevant information too quickly. Even police dogs have been known to show biases.)

Question 11

Peer review is a flawless method of addressing any biases or inaccuracies in academic articles. True or false?

Answer 11

False

(Despite the nature of peer review, it does not always mean the research that comes out will be perfect. Unfortunately, authors tend to choose junior examiners to review their articles as they are less experienced and more likely to just agree with the author.)