Eyewitness WebQuest Key PDF

Name:_____________________________________________________________________ EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY & Forensic Science Eyewitness testimony has been used for centuries in criminal investigations, often leading to the conviction of the accused. However, science is finding increasingly substantial evide...

Name:_____________________________________________________________________ EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY & Forensic Science Eyewitness testimony has been used for centuries in criminal investigations, often leading to the conviction of the accused. However, science is finding increasingly substantial evidence against the use of eyewitness testimony as an accurate way of identifying suspects. In fact, brain researchers suggest that eyewitness testimony shouldn’t be used AT ALL and should not be allowed to be used in the court room. Today, you will participate in a WebQuest where you will research for yourself and develop your own opinion on this highly debatable topic. Visit the sites below and answer the questions. Article #1: https://tinyurl.com/yckwah6c 1. How do most people perceive human memory? Like a video recorder - where the mind records events and then plays back an exact replica of them. 2. According to the article, “the act of remembering is akin to putting puzzle pieces together.” How is memory like a puzzle? Memories are put together/reconstructed. Fragments of the memory are combined with other information. 3. What proposals has The Innocence Project made to improving the accuracy of eyewitness IDs? 1) videotaping the identification procedures so that juries can determine if it was conducted properly 2) putting individuals in the line up that resemble the witness's description of the perpetrator 3) informing the viewer that the perp may or may not be in the line up 4) ensuring that the person administering the line up does not know who the suspect is Article #2: https://tinyurl.com/mup3b8ht 4. Explain how the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 relate to the discussion of eyewitness testimony today. Answers will vary, but should include the fact that many “witches” were convicted based solely on eyewitness accounts. © The Trendy Science Teacher 2018 Article #3: https://tinyurl.com/5xkbn29d 5. What was the primary reason for Otis Boone's conviction? a. physical evidence b. eyewitness identification c. confession d. video footage 6. What are estimator variables? a. Variables that can be controlled by the criminal justice system b. Variables that affect eyewitness identification, such as lighting and distance c. Variables that are not relevant to eyewitness identification d. Variables that can be manipulated by the perpetrator 7. How many states have currently implemented the core reforms promoted by the Innocence Project? a.10 b. 15 c. 20 d. 24 8. What is the "cross-race effect" and how did it impact Otis Boone's case? (You may need to conduct further research to accurately answer this question.) the tendency for eyewitnesses to better recognize members of their own race/ethnicity than members of other races/ethnicities. Boone was a black man, and the victims were both white. 9. What are estimator variables and system variables in eyewitness identification, and how do they differ? Estimator variables are those that cannot be controlled by the criminal justice system. These include lighting, distance, perpetrator’s race, presence of a weapon, etc. System variables are controlled by the criminal justice system. These include how law enforcement agencies retrieve and record witness memory. 10. How could procedural reforms, such as the "double-blind" procedure and obtaining confidence statements, have helped prevent Otis Boone's wrongful conviction? These procedures would have ensured that system variables and safeguards were established that would prevent inaccurate eyewitness accounts. © The Trendy Science Teacher 2018 Article #4: https://tinyurl.com/366eaaw4 11. What is episodic memory? a. A person's unique memory of a specific event b. A person's memory of general facts c. A person's memory of their daily routine d. A person's memory of their favorite food 12. What is the difference between episodic memory and semantic memory? a. Episodic memory involves emotions, while semantic memory does not. b. Episodic memory is just the facts, while semantic memory is an individual’s unique take on a particular episode. c. Episodic memory is a person's unique memory of a specific event, while semantic memory is just the facts. d. Episodic memory and semantic memory are the same thing. 13. What is the process of recollection? a. The first step in forming an episodic memory b. The step that bakes an event into your long-term memory c. The retrieval of contextual information about a specific incident d. The process of forgetting a memory over time 14. How can episodic memory be affected? By trauma, hydrocephalus, tumors, metabolic conditions such as vitamin B1 deficiency, and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. 15. How does the use of suspect line-ups support the process of recollection? Recollection is a process that elicits the retrieval of contextual information pertaining to a specific incident. Sometimes a cue is needed to retrieve this information. When a victim or eyewitness is shown a police line-up, this “cue” may lead to a positive identification. © The Trendy Science Teacher 2018 Conduct an internet search to create a list of pros and cons of using eyewitness testimony in forensic investigations. You must have at least 5 pros and at least 5 cons. Using Eyewitness Testimony in Forensic Investigations PROS VS. CONS 1.Inaccuracies and Memory Distortion: 1.Crucial Information: Eyewitnesses can provide valuable and often unique Human memory is fallible and subject to information about a crime, such as distortions, leading to inaccuracies in descriptions of suspects, events, or eyewitness accounts. Factors like stress, license plate numbers. This information trauma, the passage of time, suggestion, or can be essential for identifying and bias can impact the reliability of the apprehending the perpetrator. testimony, potentially leading to wrongful accusations or acquittals. 2.Corroborating Evidence: Eyewitness 2.Cross-Racial Identification Bias: Research accounts can serve as corroborating has shown that people may have difficulty evidence when other types of evidence accurately identifying individuals of a are limited or absent. They can support different race, leading to higher rates of or validate other forms of evidence like misidentification or false identification. This video footage, forensic evidence, or bias can significantly affect the reliability of circumstantial evidence. eyewitness testimony in cases involving 3.Immediate Testimony: Eyewitnesses are individuals of different racial backgrounds. often the first people on the scene, 3.Unconscious Bias and Preconceptions: allowing them to provide immediate Eyewitnesses may unintentionally introduce and fresh testimony before memories their own biases or preconceptions into fade or details become distorted. Their their accounts. Factors like stereotypes, initial accounts can provide investigators personal beliefs, or expectations can with crucial leads and insights. influence their perception of events, 4.Emotional Impact: Eyewitness leading to biased or distorted testimony. testimony can have a powerful 4.Limited Observational Capacity: In high- emotional impact on juries or judges, stress situations, witnesses may have limited potentially influencing their perception attentional capacity, making it difficult for of the case and the credibility of the them to accurately perceive and witness. The emotional connection remember all relevant details. They may established through personal narratives focus on specific aspects of the event while missing others, leading to incomplete or can strengthen the prosecution's case. distorted accounts. 5.Case Reconstruction: Eyewitnesses can 5.Susceptibility to Suggestion: Eyewitnesses help reconstruct the sequence of events, can be susceptible to suggestion by provide details about the actions of the external influences, such as leading suspect, or even point out the location questions during police interviews or media of evidence. This information can be coverage. This can inadvertently lead them crucial for investigators in piecing to modify their memory or provide together the crime and understanding its inaccurate information, compromising the dynamics. integrity of their testimony. © The Trendy Science Teacher 2018  Using Eyewitness Testimony in Forensics Eyewitness testimony has long been a staple of forensic investigations. It is often considered one of the most powerful forms of evidence, as it can provide crucial information about a crime that may not be available through other means. However, the reliability of eyewitness testimony has been called into question in recent years, as studies have shown that memory is not always as accurate as we might like to think. One of the biggest challenges with eyewitness testimony is that memory is highly fallible. People often remember events differently than they actually occurred, and memories can be influenced by a variety of factors, including stress, emotion, and suggestion. For example, if a witness is asked leading questions or given information about a crime before they testify, it can affect their memory of the event and make their testimony less reliable. Despite these challenges, eyewitness testimony can still be a valuable tool in forensic investigations. When used properly, it can provide important details about a crime that may not be available through other means. For example, a witness may be able to describe the appearance of a suspect, the make and model of a vehicle involved in a crime, or the location and time of an incident. To ensure that eyewitness testimony is as reliable as possible, forensic investigators must take several steps. First, they must ensure that witnesses are not exposed to leading questions or other forms of suggestion that could affect their memory of the event. They must also ensure that witnesses are interviewed as soon as possible after the event, while their memory is still fresh. Finally, investigators must be aware of the limitations of eyewitness testimony and take steps to corroborate this evidence with other forms of evidence, such as physical evidence or surveillance footage. In conclusion, eyewitness testimony can be a valuable tool in forensic investigations, but it must be used carefully and with an understanding of its limitations. By taking steps to ensure that witnesses are interviewed properly and that their testimony is corroborated with other forms of evidence, forensic investigators can use eyewitness testimony to help solve crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. © The Trendy Science Teacher 2018 Summary: 1. Eyewitness testimony is a powerful form of evidence in forensic investigations. 2. Memory is fallible and can be influenced by various factors, making eyewitness testimony less reliable. 3. To ensure reliability, investigators must avoid leading questions, interview witnesses as soon as possible, and corroborate testimony with other evidence. Multiple Choice: 4. What is one reason why eyewitness testimony is considered a powerful form of evidence? a. It is always accurate. b. It provides crucial information about a crime. c. It is the only form of evidence that can be used in court. d. It is easy to obtain. 5. What is one factor that can influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony? a. The witness's age b. The location of the crime c. The type of weapon used d. The emotion of the witness 6. What is one step that forensic investigators must take to ensure the reliability of eyewitness testimony? a. They must ensure that the witness is not exposed to leading questions. b. They must interview the witness several days after the event. c. They must rely solely on eyewitness testimony to solve the crime. d. They must disregard any physical evidence that contradicts the eyewitness testimony. Short Answer: 7. What is one example of important information that eyewitness testimony can provide in a forensic investigation? Witnesses providing details about the appearance of a suspect, make & model of a vehicle used in a crime, or the location and time of an incident 8. What has called into question the reliability of eyewitness testimony in recent years? Studies have shown that memory is not always accurate. 9. What are some of the steps that forensic investigators must take to ensure the reliability of eyewitness testimony? 1. Ensure that witnesses are not exposed to leading questions. 2. Ensure that witnesses are interviewed as soon as possible. 3. Be aware of the limitations of eyewitness testimony. 10. How has this text challenged your previous beliefs about the reliability of eyewitness testimony? What implications does this have for your understanding of justice and the legal system? Answers will vary © The Trendy Science Teacher 2018