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The impact of human-technology cooperation and distributed cognition in forensic science: biasing effects of AFIS contextual information on human experts*

The impact of human-technology cooperation and distributed cognition in forensic science: biasing effects of AFIS contextual information on human experts*
The impact of human-technology cooperation and distributed cognition in forensic science: biasing effects of AFIS contextual information on human experts*
Experts play a critical role in forensic decision making, even when cognition is offloaded and distributed between human and machine. In this paper, we investigated the impact of using Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) on human decision makers. We provided 3680 AFIS lists (a total of 55,200 comparisons) to 23 latent fingerprint examiners as part of their normal casework. We manipulated the position of the matching print in the AFIS list. The data showed that latent fingerprint examiners were affected by the position of the matching print in terms of false exclusions and false inconclusives. Furthermore, the data showed that false identification errors were more likely at the top of the list and that such errors occurred even when the correct match was present further down the list. These effects need to be studied and considered carefully, so as to optimize human decision making when using technologies such as AFIS.
forensic science, afis, contextual effects, distributed cognition, cognitive influences, technology, decision making, bias
0022-1198
343-352
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Wertheim, Kasey
b6612b28-f3b3-4d07-8966-309ed8d83bf7
Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter
0582f787-6e98-45ec-aeb5-4e563f3f39c5
Walajtys, Jeff
61116605-d74b-4c06-8c78-78f43a2ed51a
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Wertheim, Kasey
b6612b28-f3b3-4d07-8966-309ed8d83bf7
Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter
0582f787-6e98-45ec-aeb5-4e563f3f39c5
Walajtys, Jeff
61116605-d74b-4c06-8c78-78f43a2ed51a

Dror, Itiel E., Wertheim, Kasey, Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter and Walajtys, Jeff (2012) The impact of human-technology cooperation and distributed cognition in forensic science: biasing effects of AFIS contextual information on human experts*. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57 (2), 343-352. (doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.02013.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Experts play a critical role in forensic decision making, even when cognition is offloaded and distributed between human and machine. In this paper, we investigated the impact of using Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) on human decision makers. We provided 3680 AFIS lists (a total of 55,200 comparisons) to 23 latent fingerprint examiners as part of their normal casework. We manipulated the position of the matching print in the AFIS list. The data showed that latent fingerprint examiners were affected by the position of the matching print in terms of false exclusions and false inconclusives. Furthermore, the data showed that false identification errors were more likely at the top of the list and that such errors occurred even when the correct match was present further down the list. These effects need to be studied and considered carefully, so as to optimize human decision making when using technologies such as AFIS.

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e-pub ahead of print date: 28 December 2011
Published date: March 2012
Keywords: forensic science, afis, contextual effects, distributed cognition, cognitive influences, technology, decision making, bias
Organisations: Southampton Business School

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 374599
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/374599
ISSN: 0022-1198
PURE UUID: ba745803-ecc1-44ba-ab27-07dc66352feb

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Date deposited: 24 Feb 2015 10:55
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 19:09

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Contributors

Author: Itiel E. Dror
Author: Kasey Wertheim
Author: Peter Fraser-Mackenzie
Author: Jeff Walajtys

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