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PDFOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access
Thesis
Perceptions of the strength of forensic science evidence vs. forensic psychology evidence
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Mar 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010882
Abstract
As the field of forensic psychology continues to grow, it is important to understand how the evidence presented by forensic psychology expert witnesses will be perceived by members of the jury, particularly as jurors' understanding of evidence can ultimately determine the verdict. The current study explored juror perceptions of the strength of evidence by comparing forensic psychology and forensic science expert testimonies, in addition to comparing strength ratings at different expert confidence levels. Utilizing a 2 x 2 study design (N = 173), the study included four conditions, varying type of evidence (forensic psychology and forensic science) and confidence of witness (51% confident and 90% confident). When including race as a covariate, the two-way ANOVAs found no significant difference in how participants rated the strength of forensic science and forensic psychology evidence across conditions, but there was a significant strength rating across fields in the 90% expert confidence condition. There was also a significant difference in participant confidence in their strength ratings by field. Additionally, despite no significant difference in participant confidence in their strength rating by expert confidence level, there was a significant difference in the participants' rating of evidence strength between the 51% and 90% conditions. The study results contribute to current understanding of perceptions of the strength of forensic psychology and forensic science testimony, though further research is necessary.
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Details
- Title
- Perceptions of the strength of forensic science evidence vs. forensic psychology evidence
- Creators
- Avery J. Chard
- Contributors
- David S. DeMatteo (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 67 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022040773104721