Let's find the evidence: an analogue study of confirmation bias in criminal investigations

Rassin, Eric; Eerland, Anita; Kuijpers, Ilse

doi:10.1002/jip.126

Cited by 65 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The assumption of guilt not only influences the hypothesis testing strategies of the forensic expert, but also the assessment of statements by independent observers. Once one has categorised an individual as low in credibility, experts have a hard time in considering alternative scenarios (Rassin, Eerland, & Kuijpers, 2010) and will be more sensitive to evidence that supports their expectation than to evidence that undermines it.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contextual Bias in Verbal Credibility Assessment: Criteria‐Based Content Analysis, Reality Monitoring and Scientific Content Analysis

Bogaard

Meijer

Vrij

et al. 2013

Applied Cognitive Psychology

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Verbal credibility assessment encompasses several methods used to evaluate the credibility of statements by examining their content. In two experiments, we tested to what extent these methods are sensitive to contextual bias. Four statements were presented, although their context was manipulated by confronting raters with extra-domain information that either enhanced or diminished the credibility of the statements. In Experiment 1, 32 police officers analysed the statements using scientific content analysis. In Experiment 2, 128 undergraduates analysed the statements using criteria derived from criteria-based content analysis, reality monitoring or scientific content analysis. Results showed that all three methods were equally vulnerable to contextual bias.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contextual Bias in Verbal Credibility Assessment: Criteria‐Based Content Analysis, Reality Monitoring and Scientific Content Analysis

Bogaard

Meijer

Vrij

et al. 2013

Applied Cognitive Psychology

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“…A conformation bias occurs when information that is consistent with a person's belief is sought and consequently information supporting the other side of the argument is disregarded. In terms of negative pre-trial publicity, this means that information supporting the defendants' guilt is favoured over information suggesting innocence (Rassin, Eerland & Kuijpers, 2010). Ruva et al (2011) found that jurors exposed to pre-trial publicity (both positive and negative) distorted witness testimony in the direction consistent with the pre-trial publicity bias.…”

Section: Pre-trial Publicity: Negative and Positivementioning

confidence: 99%

Trial by Social Media

Taylor

Tarrant

2019

International Journal of Cyber Research and Education

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Social media makes it easier than ever to access information and opinions associated with criminal proceedings, and viewing or discussing these pre-trial could reduce juror impartiality. This study explored whether viewing social media comments influenced mock juror verdicts. Seventy two participants formed twelve 6-person 'mock juries'. All participants received information regarding a murder trial. Nine groups were exposed to social media comments, manipulated to be negative, positive or neutral towards the defendant. The remaining three groups only received trial information (control condition). Results showed that prior to group discussion, exposure to negatively-biased comments significantly increased the number of guilty verdicts, however these effects disappeared after group discussion. Therefore, although jurors may be unable to remain impartial before a trial, jury discussion can remove these prejudices; supporting previous group research. Further research is suggested where participants interact actively with social media, rather than passively viewing comments.

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“…Given the prevalence of expectancy effects within most human interactions, this topic has started to receive more attention within forensic contexts such as, criminal investigations (Hill, Memon, & McGeorge, 2008), decision-making in judicial professionals (Porter & Ten Brinke, 2009), and accusatory investigative interviews (Kassin, 2005;Kassin, Goldstein, & Savitsky, 2003). Within the framework of the investigative interview, expectancy effects are often studied as a by-product of confirmation bias held by EXPECTANCY EFFECTS AND BEHAVIOUR 4 police officers or other judicial players (Narchet, Meissner, & Russano, 2011;Powell, HughesScholes, & Sharman, 2012;Rassin, Eerland, & Kuijpers, 2010). However, there has been little research within the area of the investigative interview that has examined how expectancy effects may arise internally in the interviewee based on the interviewee's perception of the situation.…”

Section: Interview Expectancies: Awareness Of Potential Biases Influementioning

confidence: 99%

Interview Expectancies: Awareness of potential biases influences behaviour in interviewees

Adams-Quackenbush¹,

Horselenberg²,

Hubert³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Expectancy effects are known to influence behaviour so that what is expected appears to be true. In the present study, expectancy was induced using (fabricated) information about honesty and specific group membership. We tested Targets in a non-accusatory interview environment using neutral and information-gathering type questions. We hypothesized that persons exposed to the negative information (the expectancy) would demonstrate behaviour consistent with increased cognitive load, and we found evidence to support this prediction. Due to the investigative nature of the information gathering questions, we also expected that Targets exposed to the expectancy would exhibit more of these behaviours in the investigative portion of the interview. We found some behaviour to support this prediction (i.e., shorter responses and increased speech disturbances); however, indicators of performance altering load were not observed during this phase of the interview. These findings support the hypothesis that expectancy effects can noticeably alter interviewee behaviour.

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Let's find the evidence: an analogue study of confirmation bias in criminal investigations

Cited by 65 publications

References 25 publications

Contextual Bias in Verbal Credibility Assessment: Criteria‐Based Content Analysis, Reality Monitoring and Scientific Content Analysis

Contextual Bias in Verbal Credibility Assessment: Criteria‐Based Content Analysis, Reality Monitoring and Scientific Content Analysis

Trial by Social Media

Interview Expectancies: Awareness of potential biases influences behaviour in interviewees

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