40 Questions
What is the primary focus of forensic psychology?
The application of psychological knowledge to all aspects of the criminal and civil justice systems
Which of the following is NOT a topic studied in forensic psychology?
Marketing strategies
Who conducted research on eyewitness memory in 1895?
James Cattell
What was the focus of Alfred Binet's research?
The effects of misleading questions on eyewitness testimony
What is the term for the period of eyewitness research from 1900 to WWI?
Aussage period
What was a key finding of James Cattell's research?
Misleading questions can lead to inaccurate eyewitness testimony
When did psychologists begin to appear as witnesses in court?
Around the time of the Aussage period
What is a key topic studied in forensic psychology relating to the criminal investigation process?
Profiling
What are the two primary functions of an expert witness?
To aid in understanding a particular issue relevant to the case and to provide an opinion
Who can ask the judge to permit expert witnesses?
Either side
What is one of the criticisms of psychology by the legal system?
Psychology lacks ecological validity
What is one of the admissibility criteria for expert witnesses?
Experts must have special knowledge above and beyond that of average juror
In which case did the court rule that psychologists and psychiatrists are not needed except where mental illness is an issue?
R v Turner 1975
Which Act abolished the common-knowledge rule in Australia?
Evidence Act NSW (1995)
What type of evidence is regularly disallowed in Australia and NZ?
Eyewitness testimony
In which country is it less common for academic psychologists to appear in court?
Australia
What is the primary focus of the next six lectures in this course?
Crimes, including sexual assault, murder, child abuse, and domestic violence
What is the purpose of the support services provided by the University of Sydney?
To offer emotional support to students discussing sensitive topics
According to Blackburn (1996), what should the term 'Forensic Psychology' be used to denote?
The direct provision of psychological information to the courts
What is one of the learning outcomes of this lecture?
To describe the history of Forensic Psychology
What is the purpose of an expert witness in court?
To provide psychological information to the courts
Why is it important to critically evaluate techniques in forensic science?
To identify potential flaws and biases in the techniques
What is the primary focus of Forensic Psychology?
The application of psychology to the legal process
What is a key aspect of the University of Sydney's Support Services?
A confidential helpline service
What was the significance of the R v Skaf case in 2006?
Psychologists were allowed to give expert evidence on eyewitness testimony.
How long has fingerprint evidence been used in court?
Over 100 years.
What was the focus of the 2011 study by Tangen, Thompson, and McCarthy?
The accuracy of fingerprint identification.
Who were the participants in the 2011 study?
Qualified fingerprint experts and novices.
What was the overall finding regarding the accuracy of fingerprint experts?
They were very accurate, but not perfect.
How did fingerprint experts tend to err in their judgments?
They were overly cautious and often freed the guilty.
What was a concerning finding regarding the errors made by fingerprint experts?
They occasionally made errors that could lead to false convictions.
What is the name of the scientific journal that published the 2011 study?
Psychological Science
What is the main concern with facial mapping techniques used in Australian courts?
They are not standardised and consistently applied by practitioners.
What is the implication of the 2015 report by the Justice Department and FBI?
That nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony.
What is the primary goal of forensic psychologists acting as expert witnesses?
To provide information that assists the court in understanding an issue of relevance to the case.
What is the significance of the Innocence Project?
It helps to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals.
What has been a long-standing concern with forensic techniques?
Their subjective and pattern-based nature.
What is the primary application of psychological knowledge in forensic psychology?
To the legal system.
What is a common criticism of facial mapping evidence?
Its validity and reliability are unknown.
What is a key role of forensic psychologists?
To provide information that assists the court in understanding an issue of relevance to the case.
Study Notes
Forensic Psychology
- Forensic Psychology is the application of psychological knowledge and theories to all aspects of the criminal and civil justice systems, including the processes and the people.
Topics Studied in Forensic Psychology
- The Process: • Criminal investigation (profiling, lie detection, identification parades, eyewitness testimony, repressed/recovered memories, interrogations, and confession evidence) • Pre-trial (competency to stand trial, pre-trial publicity, and jury selection) • Trial (insanity plea, expert evidence/judge warnings, jury deliberation, and sentencing) • Post-trial (the prison experience, treatment of offenders, and risk assessment)
- The People: • Victims of Crime • Offenders of Crime • Police • Jurors • Judges • Witnesses
History of Forensic Psychology
- Earliest research investigated eyewitness memory (James Cattell, 1895)
- Alfred Binet (1900) showed children objects and asked about them, finding that highly misleading questions resulted in poor accuracy
- Aussage period of eyewitness research (1900-WWI) conducted "reality experiments" with staged events
- Psychologists began to appear as witnesses in court around this time
Functions of an Expert Witness
- Two primary functions: aid in understanding a particular issue relevant to the case and provide an opinion
- Expert witnesses may be clinical psychologists or academic psychologists
Challenges of Providing Expert Testimony
- The Legal System's Criticisms of Psychology: • Lack of ecological validity of psychological research • Psychologists may become advocates and lose objectivity • Psychology can intrude upon the legitimate activities of the legal system • It's all common sense
Admissibility Criteria
- Experts must satisfy the judge that they have special knowledge above and beyond that of the average juror and that this expertise will assist the jurors
- England & Wales: experts not commonly used, and psychological knowledge seen as common sense
- Australia: constrained by the Turner ruling, but with more relaxation in recent times, especially regarding eyewitness testimony
Expert Evidence: Fingerprints
- Fingerprint evidence is analyzed by humans, with the first study to objectively investigate fingerprint identification accuracy published in 2011
- Tested qualified practicing fingerprint experts and novices, assessing accuracy for matched, similar, and not similar pairs of prints
- Experts were very accurate but not perfect, tending to err on the side of caution
Expert Evidence: Facial Mapping
- Techniques are not standardized and not consistently applied by practitioners
- Measurements, noting characteristics, or other techniques are used
Expert Evidence: Hair Analysis
- The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials
- Confirms long-suspected problems with subjective, pattern-based forensic techniques (e.g., hair, bite-marks)
This lecture series covers various crimes including sexual assault, murder, child abuse, and domestic violence, with a focus on support services available for those affected.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
