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Contextual information renders experts vulnerable to making erroneous identifications

Contextual information renders experts vulnerable to making erroneous identifications
Contextual information renders experts vulnerable to making erroneous identifications
We investigated whether experts can objectively focus on feature information in fingerprints without being misled by extraneous information, such as context. We took fingerprints that have previously been examined and assessed by latent print experts to make positive identification of suspects. Then we presented these same fingerprints again, to the same experts, but gave a context that suggested that they were a no-match, and hence the suspects could not be identified. Within this new context, most of the fingerprint experts made different judgements, thus contradicting their own previous identification decisions. Cognitive aspects involved in biometric identification can explain why experts are vulnerable to make erroneous identifications.
psychology, cognition, erroneous identification, bias, extraneous information, contextual influence, fingerprints
0379-0738
74-78
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Charlton, David
1a27c454-672b-4057-b91a-757660ce3fae
Péron, Alisa E.
695b5ab4-163c-401d-b1a7-2b79979251a9
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Charlton, David
1a27c454-672b-4057-b91a-757660ce3fae
Péron, Alisa E.
695b5ab4-163c-401d-b1a7-2b79979251a9

Dror, Itiel E., Charlton, David and Péron, Alisa E. (2006) Contextual information renders experts vulnerable to making erroneous identifications. Forensic Science International, 156 (1), 74-78. (doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.10.017).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We investigated whether experts can objectively focus on feature information in fingerprints without being misled by extraneous information, such as context. We took fingerprints that have previously been examined and assessed by latent print experts to make positive identification of suspects. Then we presented these same fingerprints again, to the same experts, but gave a context that suggested that they were a no-match, and hence the suspects could not be identified. Within this new context, most of the fingerprint experts made different judgements, thus contradicting their own previous identification decisions. Cognitive aspects involved in biometric identification can explain why experts are vulnerable to make erroneous identifications.

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More information

Published date: 2006
Keywords: psychology, cognition, erroneous identification, bias, extraneous information, contextual influence, fingerprints

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 27807
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/27807
ISSN: 0379-0738
PURE UUID: f3a02b01-9fe2-4468-b36f-e76122fdc4de

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 26 Apr 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:21

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Contributors

Author: Itiel E. Dror
Author: David Charlton
Author: Alisa E. Péron

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