Perception problems of the verbal scale

Mullen, Carrie; Spence, Danielle; Moxey, Linda M.; Jamieson, Allan

doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2013.10.004

Cited by 26 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The study did not compare responses to those from an alternative scale, but instead measured the extent of any divergence from a model in which intentions and perceptions align. Following previous work [5,6,7,8], this study provides additional evidence that the potential for miscommunication when verbal expressions are used and the perception problems observed suggest a number of divergences between the intended meaning of the expressions and the way in which they are perceived. The results and findings generated by this study highlight the need for the undertaking of further validation studies in alternative contexts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

“…The perceptions of the respondents in each sample group are displayed in boxplots (figures [3][4][5]. In all three groups, we observe the general trend of increased perceived strength as the intended strength is increased, particularly if we examine the median values which are affected by the extreme responses to a lesser degree.…”

Section: All Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Footwear mark evidence was chosen for this study as it was one of the evidence types employed by Mullen et al [5]. A volume crime -a burglary -was selected as it was hypothesised that a more "serious" offence may have had an impact on responses.…”

Section: The Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mullen et al [5] examined the perception of verbal expressions among volunteers and while there was some evidence that median perceptions ascended with each level of the scales, there were significant inconsistencies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Understanding forensic expert evaluative evidence: A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence

Arscott¹,

Morgan²,

Meakin³

et al. 2017

Science & Justice

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Verbal expressions of evidential strength are routinely used when presenting forensic expert evaluative evidence. The degree to which these verbal expressions are interpreted uniformly among different individuals requires further empirical study. This study focussed on groups of individuals with different roles within the criminal justice system and individuals with varying degrees of expertise and knowledge. Three groups of individuals were identified: laypeople, legal professionals and those with some forensic or investigative knowledge. The participants in the study (n=230) were provided with a case summary to which a verbal expression of the strength of evidence was randomly assigned. Participants were subsequently invited to indicate their perception of the strength of the evidence on a scale that was provided. Generally, across the study groups, the trend was one of increased perceived strength of evidence as the intended strength of the verbal expression was increased, with some notable exceptions. In general, there was good concordance between the groups in the way the different expressions were perceived. It was found that participants performed poorly when it came to differentiating between expressions at the 'strong' end of the scale ('strong', 'very strong' and extremely strong'). The findings resonate with calls for validated and robust communication frameworks for evaluative opinions. Further empirical research in this area is warranted and that such research can represent an important contribution towards improving the communication and presentation of forensic evidence.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: All Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Understanding forensic expert evaluative evidence: A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence

Arscott¹,

Morgan²,

Meakin³

et al. 2017

Science & Justice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There is an ongoing debate on how forensic examiners should best express their conclusions. The key issues involve not only what constitutes the most accurate way to present the findings, but also how the manner of presentation and how it is presented affects what is actually understood by the trier of fact when hearing expert opinions [11], and these problems are compounded if those opinions involve decision scales [12], or statistics and probabilities [13,14].…”

Section: (B) Presentation In Courtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive neuroscience in forensic science: understanding and utilizing the human element

Dror

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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One contribution of 15 to a discussion meeting issue 'The paradigm shift for UK forensic science'. The human element plays a critical role in forensic science. It is not limited only to issues relating to forensic decision-making, such as bias, but also relates to most aspects of forensic work (some of which even take place before a crime is ever committed or long after the verification of the forensic conclusion). In this paper, I explicate many aspects of forensic work that involve the human element and therefore show the relevance (and potential contribution) of cognitive neuroscience to forensic science. The 10 aspects covered in this paper are proactive forensic science, selection during recruitment, training, crime scene investigation, forensic decision-making, verification and conflict resolution, reporting, the role of the forensic examiner, presentation in court and judicial decisions. As the forensic community is taking on the challenges introduced by the realization that the human element is critical for forensic work, new opportunities emerge that allow for considerable improvement and enhancement of the forensic science endeavour.

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Verbal Scales: A Legal Perspective

Ward

2016

Wiley Encyclopedia of Forensic Science

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Perception problems of the verbal scale

Cited by 26 publications

References 9 publications

Understanding forensic expert evaluative evidence: A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence

Understanding forensic expert evaluative evidence: A study of the perception of verbal expressions of the strength of evidence

Cognitive neuroscience in forensic science: understanding and utilizing the human element

Verbal Scales: A Legal Perspective

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