Testing for potential contextual bias effects during the verification stage of the ACE-V methodology when conducting fingerprint comparisons

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_5A293633F610
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Testing for potential contextual bias effects during the verification stage of the ACE-V methodology when conducting fingerprint comparisons
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences
Author(s)
Langenburg G., Champod C., Wertheim P.
Publication state
Published
Issued date
05/2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
54
Number
3
Pages
571-582
Language
english
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess if fingerprint specialists could be influenced by extraneous contextual information during a verification process. Participants were separated into three groups: a control group (no contextual information was given), a low bias group (minimal contextual information was given in the form of a report prompting conclusions), and a high bias group (an internationally recognized fingerprint expert provided conclusions and case information to deceive this group into believing that it was his case and conclusions). A similar experiment was later conducted with laypersons. The results showed that fingerprint experts were influenced by contextual information during fingerprint comparisons, but not towards making errors. Instead, fingerprint experts under the biasing conditions provided significantly fewer definitive and erroneous conclusions than the control group. In contrast, the novice participants were more influenced by the bias conditions and did tend to make incorrect judgments, especially when prompted towards an incorrect response by the bias prompt.
Create date
18/05/2009 13:28
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:13
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