Factors Influencing JDM

Question 1

Attractiveness

Answer 1

Abwender an Hough aimed to investigate Attractiveness Leniency Hypothesis (attractive means treated more favourably), and also whether sex played a role.

Found that female PP were more lenient to an attractive female defendant and less to unattractive. Males displayed opposite tendency.

Question 2

Race

Answer 2

Bradbury and Williams analysed data from real criminal cases in US and found that juries comprised of mostly whites were more likely to convict black defendants.

Question 3

Accent

Answer 3

Study by Dixon investigated the effect of a regional accent on the attribution of guilt. A recorded convo between male policeman and male suspect played to 119 PP.

Accent of sus was varied. Ratings of guilt were higher for Birmingham accent .

Question 4

Pre-Trial Publicity (Steblay et al)

Answer 4

Meta analysis of 44 studies, 5755 PP in a mock jury trial/questionnaire.

Negative info given to experimental group and no info to control group; had to decide guilt of D.

Question 5

Findings of Steblay

Answer 5

Those exposed to negative PTP sig more likely to return guilty verdict than control groups who were not.

PTP was strongest in murder/sexual abuse.

Question 6

Conclusions of Steblay

Answer 6

PTP leads people to be more likely to reach guilty verdict.

Question 7

Strength

Answer 7

Research in this area is ethical.
Cases are usually imaginary, allowing manipulation of variables that would be unethical in real trials.

Question 8

Weakness

Answer 8

Untested factors may affect real juries.
Factors can affect such as whether the juror has personally experienced the offence, there is a charismatic leader juror which can sway opinion.

These can limit usefulness of mock trials.