E2a2 Sigall and Ostrove (1975): attractiveness and jury decision-making

Question 1

Aim of Sigall and Ostrove’s study

Answer 1

1) whether attractiveness affected jury decision-making

2) whether there was a relationship between attractiveness and the type of crime committed

Question 2

Procedure of Sigall and Ostrove’s study

Answer 2

2 types of crimes used: Burglary and fraud

1) 120 participants given piece of card with crime written on it and picture of woman, known as Barbara Helms
2) split into 6 different groups
3) each group saw either attractive or unattractive photo of Barbara and read about a fraud of burgalry she committed: 1. Attractive photo accused of burglary. 2. unattractive photo accused of burglary. 3. no photo with burglary case (control). 4. attractive photo accused of fraud. 5. unattractive photo accused of fraud. 6. no photo with fraud case (control)
4) participants asked to rate how attractive Barbara was to make sure they agreed with which photo was attractive and which unattractive.
5) Researchers asked individual “jurors” to give Barbara prison sentence ranging from 1 to 15 years

Question 3

Results of Sigall and Ostrove’s study

Answer 3

Similar length of sentence awarded for both crimes, with both the unattractive photo and no photo. The attractive photo has a big effect on the participant’s decision. They thought “attractive Barbara” should spend longer in jail for fraud, and less for burglary. Attractive people associated with crimes like fraud, as they can use good looks to swindle money out of people. Victims would see them as trustworthy. Attractive people NOT associated with burglary, as we don’t believe they can break into a flat and steal

Question 4

Conclusion of Sigall and Ostrove’s study

Answer 4

the experiment highlights the importance looks have on jury decision-making. Attractive people do get away with some crimes, but if they have used looks to commit a crime they are less likely to get away with it

Question 5

Strengths of Sigall and Ostrove’s study

Answer 5

1) good controls used- standardised instructions, given similar cases to read and a sentence to decide- less extraneous variables that could have affected decisions- makes findings reliable and study can be repeated in same way again
2) control group useful- shows whether or not the photos did affect participants’s decisions or not
3) demand characteristics prevented- they didn’t know what other groups were doing- less likely to guess aim of study
4) study valid- can be used to inform jurors not to base decisions based on looks- should only use evidence and testimony
5) participants asked to rate attractiveness of photo- to make sure participants agreed that people agreed with whether a photo was attractive or not

Question 6

Weaknesses of Sigall and Ostrove’s study

Answer 6

1) experiment not realistic- not what jury would normally experience- jury would see defendant in real life, listen to evidence and testimony + decide as a group
2) Juries only normally decide if defendant is guilty- the judge decides the length of prison sentence

Question 7

Extraneous variables

Answer 7

any variables that might affect the results of the study that may not be controlled