CS Report

Question 1

Purpose

Answer 1

1. Documentation of events
2. Refreshes the investigator’s memory of events
3. Assists other parties
4. Legal requirement

Question 2

Bias in report writing

Answer 2

1. Experimenters bias
2. Confirmation bias

Question 3

Experimenter’s bias

Answer 3

Tendency for experimenters to believe and publish data that agree with their expectations and downgrade corresponding data that appear to conflict with those expectations

Question 4

Disadvantage of expectation bias

Answer 4

1. Investigators reach premature conclusion too early in the study
2. Not all relevant data are considered
3. Investigative process, analysis and conclusions are not scientifically valid

Question 5

Confirmation bias

Answer 5

Tendency to test hypothesis by looking for confirming evidence rather than potentially conflicting evidence.

Question 6

Features of confirmation bias

Answer 6

1. Investigators conduct investigation to prove a specific outcome/ conclusion
2. Results in failure to consider other alternative hypothesis.
3. A hypothesis is valid only when rigorous testing has failed to disprove it.

Question 7

Essentials of a good report

Answer 7

1. Assignment information
2. Description
3. Interviews/statements or background info on both suspects and witnesses
4. Observations- both interior and exterior
5. Determination of origin (fire scenes)
6. Accidents

Question 8

Documentation

Answer 8

1. Photographs
2. Diagrams
3. Documentation of evidence

Question 9

Opinion

Answer 9

1. Concise based on observations and evidence
2. Provide reasons for your conclusions