The use of social science in public interest litigation: A role for community psychologists

Abstract

This article argues (to the legal community and especially to communityoriented psychologists) that, despite some philosophical and methodological differences between law and the social sciences, research in community psychology is an especially appropriate medium for deriving much of the expert testimony that is central to public interest~social change litigation. Judicial attitudes toward the use of social scientific knowledge throughout this century are discussed, with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision viewed as the turning point, not only for civil rights fitigation but also for the judicial recognition of social research. While the courtroom use of social science theories and testimony has generally expanded, community psychologists have yet to play as major a role as their method and field of inquiry warrant. It is concluded that community psychologists and those involved in public interest litigation need to pay closer and more systematic attention to one another's work.

Rural behavioral health services for children and adolescents: An ecological and community psychology analysis

“…Identify and work toward ameliorating the macrosystemic issues that underlie rural health and health care problems. Community psychologists have long been encouraged to take active roles in community organizing (Speer & Hughey, 1995), policymaking (Heflinger & Dokecki, 1989), and public interest litigation (Perkins, 1988).…”

Effects of lawyers' socio-political attitudes on their judgments of social science in legal decision making.

“…Over the last 20 years, the legal system has seen a variety of psycholegal research studies and advocacy efforts aimed at informing the law about legally relevant psychological issues (DeLeon, O’Keefe, Vandenbos, & Kraut, 1982; Melton, 1987a; Perkins, 1988; Wursten & Sales, 1988). For example, cognitive psychologists have presented evidence on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (Cutler & Penrod, 1995), social psychologists have presented evidence on jury size and jury decision making (Tanford, 1990), forensic psychologists have presented evidence on predictions of dangerousness and competence to stand trial (Davies, Lloyd-Bostock, McMurran, & Wilson, 1995), and developmental psychologists have presented evidence on childrens’ competency and the accuracy of their testimony (Woolard, Reppucci, & Redding, 1996).…”

Interdisciplinary contributions to community psychology and transdisciplinary promise.

“…Kenneth Clark, Isidor Chein, and Stuart Cook (2004) wrote the famous Social Science Statement on the effects of racial segregation of schools and the consequences of desegregation for the U.S. Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case. That case ushered in a new era of legal and policy studies, in which community psychologists were early participants, although their role has not been as prominent in legal or political change as our expertise and values have warranted (Melton, 2000;Perkins, 1988). Landmarks in community psychology' s recognition of legal studies have been the work of Murray Levine (Levine & Levine, 1970;Levine et al, 2005) and a 1988 American Journal of Community Psychology special issue on community psychology and the law.…”