W11 Jury Decision Making Flashcards
Why do we study juror decision-making?
To isolate basic cognitive processes, address logistical concerns, and because individual juror verdicts are strong predictors of post-deliberation verdicts.
What are the two main methodologies for studying juror decision-making?
Non-experimental methodologies (e.g., post-event questionnaires) and experimental methodologies (e.g., mock-juror simulations).
What is a limitation of non-experimental methodologies in juror research?
Issues with accessing jurors and potential biases in self-reported data due to memory and social desirability.
What is the primary basis for juror verdicts?
The strength of evidence (SOE).
What types of evidence do jurors prefer?
Eyewitness (E/W) evidence, witness confidence, consistency of testimony, corroboration, and expert testimony.
How does witness confidence impact juror decisions?
High confidence can increase perceived reliability, but feedback and social effects can distort this perception.
What issues can arise with confessions in juror decision-making?
High-pressure confessions may be seen as less reliable, yet they can still lead to increased guilty verdicts even if ruled inadmissible.
What are non-evidential influences on juror decision-making?
Factors such as attractiveness, socioeconomic status, race, and pre-trial publicity can bias juror evaluations.
What is the difference between systematic and heuristic processing?
Systematic processing involves detailed analysis, while heuristic processing relies on intuitive shortcuts and lacks deep cognitive effort.
How do jurors’ motivations affect their processing of information?
Jurors motivated to process information systematically will rely more on the strength of evidence, but heuristics may bias their evaluations under ambiguity.
What are formal and story models of juror decision-making?
Formal models involve accumulating evidence to meet a decision criterion, while story models focus on jurors creating narratives to make sense of evidence.
What are the three basic processes in the story model?
Integration and evaluation of evidence, learning the verdict definition, and matching verdict options to the constructed narrative.
How do presentation styles affect juror decision-making?
Logical and chronological presentations of evidence can enhance narrative coherence and influence juror verdicts.
What is the significance of prior conceptions in juror decision-making?
Prior misconceptions and the complexity of cases can influence how jurors evaluate evidence and make decisions.
Can formal and story models coexist in understanding juror decision-making?
Yes, both models can inform how jurors respond to evidence and construct narratives as they reach verdicts.
