Investigative Experience and Accuracy in Psychological Profiling of a Violent Crime

Abstract

Although psychological profiling has achieved wide acceptance in law enforcement investigations, there has been little empirical research into the skills required for profiling. One attribute that is frequently cited as quintessential for effective profiling is experience in police investigations. In a study similar in design to Kocsis, Irwin, Hayes, and Nunn, this study examined the importance in profiling of investigative experience by testing groups of homicide detectives, senior police detectives, trainee detectives, police recruits, and undergraduate chemistry students. The chemistry students tended to produce the most accurate profiles of the perpetrator of a closed homicide case. Of all the groups, the chemistry students most consistently outperformed a control group given no information about the case when constructing a profile of the offender. There was also some evidence of an inverse relationship between investigative experience and profile accuracy.

What skills are required for effective offender profiling? An examination of the relationship between critical thinking ability and profile accuracy

“…Indeed, excluding that sub-section of the profile, the overall profile accuracy score increases to 49%. Previous research involving students has reported profile accuracy levels of 40% (Kocsis et al, 2000), 41% (Kocsis et al, 2002), and 59% (Kocsis, 2004). 1 Thus, while the current group of students exhibited slightly lower levels of overall profile accuracy compared to the previous groups, they are comparable to the students that were examined in two of Kocsis' studies.…”

“…Kocsis, 2003aKocsis, ,b, 2004Kocsis, Hayes, & Irwin, 2002;Kocsis, Irwin, Hayes, & Nunn, 2000). The studies emerging from this research program have been interpreted as providing support for some of the profiling skills put forward by Hazelwood et al, particularly logical reasoning ability and an appreciation for the criminal mind (see Kocsis, 2003a for a review of this evidence).…”

Statistical modelling in the investigation of stranger rape

“…Domain-specifi c knowledge based on probabilities is necessary. Detectives seem to lack the necessary skills to infer characteristics of the offender (Adhami & Browne, 1996;Jackson et al 1997;Kocsis, Hayes, & Irwin, 2002;Kocsis, Irwin, Hayes, & Nunn, 2000). In addition, to infer characteristics without empirical support is currently being criticised (Snook, Cullen, Benell, Taylor, & Gendreau, 2008).…”

Taking Stock of Accuracy in Criminal Profiling: The Theoretical Quandary for Investigative Psychology

“…What emerged as a major study into the evaluation of profiling accuracy was a study by Kocsis (2003). This study undertook an integrated analysis of the data collected in Kocsis et al (2000), Kocsis et al (2002) and Kocsis (2004), in addition to incorporating some additional original data. The findings of Kocsis (2003) revealed a pattern in the capabilities of profilers to surpass all other tested groups in the profiling experiments.…”

“…Some evidence emerged in terms of a tentative pattern of profilers surpassing the other sampled groups. Thereafter, Kocsis, Hayes, and Irwin (2002) used the previous murder case but focused on examining the value that experience in criminal investigation may have on the process of proficient profiling. This study failed to find evidence to support the need for investigative experience in proficient profiling.…”