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Emotional experiences and motivating factors associated with fingerprint analysis

Emotional experiences and motivating factors associated with fingerprint analysis
Emotional experiences and motivating factors associated with fingerprint analysis
In this study, we investigated the emotional and motivational factors involved in fingerprint analysis in day-to-day routine case work and in significant and harrowing criminal investigations. Thematic analysis was performed on interviews with 13 experienced fingerprint examiners from a variety of law enforcement agencies. The data revealed factors relating to job satisfaction and the use of skill. Individual satisfaction related to catching criminals was observed; this was most notable in solving high profile, serious, or long-running cases. There were positive emotional effects associated with matching fingerprints and apparent fear of making errors. Finally, we found evidence for a need of cognitive closure in fingerprint examiner decision-making.
forensic science, expertise, motivation, emotion, satisfaction, qualitative, thematic analysis, need for closure
0022-1198
385-393
Charlton, David
1c70f22e-c27f-4bed-89f5-ee1c4ba83931
Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter A.F.
0582f787-6e98-45ec-aeb5-4e563f3f39c5
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Charlton, David
1c70f22e-c27f-4bed-89f5-ee1c4ba83931
Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter A.F.
0582f787-6e98-45ec-aeb5-4e563f3f39c5
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71

Charlton, David, Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter A.F. and Dror, Itiel E. (2010) Emotional experiences and motivating factors associated with fingerprint analysis. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 55 (2), 385-393. (doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01295.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the emotional and motivational factors involved in fingerprint analysis in day-to-day routine case work and in significant and harrowing criminal investigations. Thematic analysis was performed on interviews with 13 experienced fingerprint examiners from a variety of law enforcement agencies. The data revealed factors relating to job satisfaction and the use of skill. Individual satisfaction related to catching criminals was observed; this was most notable in solving high profile, serious, or long-running cases. There were positive emotional effects associated with matching fingerprints and apparent fear of making errors. Finally, we found evidence for a need of cognitive closure in fingerprint examiner decision-making.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 11 February 2010
Published date: March 2010
Keywords: forensic science, expertise, motivation, emotion, satisfaction, qualitative, thematic analysis, need for closure
Organisations: Southampton Business School

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 374608
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/374608
ISSN: 0022-1198
PURE UUID: f9d34cd7-d537-453b-afd2-aff93d9278a8

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Date deposited: 24 Feb 2015 12:44
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 19:09

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Contributors

Author: David Charlton
Author: Peter A.F. Fraser-Mackenzie
Author: Itiel E. Dror

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