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Dissertation
Impact of expert testimony on decision-making of legal professionals in termination of parental rights proceedings
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Villanova University, School of Law
Jun 1995
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009545
Abstract
Study investigated the influence of factors, including expert testimony, on decision-making in termination of parental rights proceedings. Subjects included 69 Pennsylvania Orphans and Family Court judges, 87 Pennsylvania family law attorneys, and 48 family law professors from U.S. law schools. Subjects evaluated a list of 21 criteria as to importance in making termination decisions. Analysis revealed significant differences in assigned importance among groups of legal professionals. Underlying dimensions of the criteria were also explored by factor analysis. Subjects also read one of four vignettes and indicated how likely they would be to terminate parental rights in that fact situation. Vignettes presented either no expert testimony, testimony unfavorable to the parent by a hired expert, testimony unfavorable to the parent by a court-appointed expert, or testimony favorable to the parent by a court-appointed expert. Data were subjected to analyses of variance, but failed tests for normality. Non-parametric tests failed to detect significant differences among levels of expert testimony or among groups. Wide within-group variation suggests the existing statute may be too vague to give the structure and guidance required for consistent decisions to be made.
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Details
- Title
- Impact of expert testimony on decision-making of legal professionals in termination of parental rights proceedings
- Creators
- Janet S. Perry
- Contributors
- Donald N. Bersoff (Advisor) - Drexel University, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002)
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Villanova University, School of Law
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Villanova University, School of Law; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- viii, 156 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); School of Health Sciences and Humanities (1993-1996)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888780804721