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Cognitive and contextual influences in determination of latent fingerprint suitability for identification judgments

Cognitive and contextual influences in determination of latent fingerprint suitability for identification judgments
Cognitive and contextual influences in determination of latent fingerprint suitability for identification judgments
We examined forensic fingerprint examiners' suitability determinations of latent fingerprints comparing situations in which the latent is assessed solo (in isolation) versus situations in which it is presented alongside a comparison (matching or non-matching) exemplar print. The presence of a non-matching comparison exemplar led examiners to be more inclined to draw the conclusion that the latent was suitable for comparison compared to when the latent was presented solo. This effect persisted even when the latent presented was highly unsuitable for comparison. The presence of a matching comparison exemplar led examiners to be less likely to decide that the latent was suitable and more likely to decide the latent was questionable compared to solo analysis. This effect persisted even when the latent presented was highly suitable, suggesting a strong main effect. Knowledge of another examiner's previous determination that the latent was unsuitable was found to increase the likelihood that the examiner would conclude that the latent was unsuitable. However, knowledge of a previous “suitable” determination by another examiner did not increase the likelihood of a “suitable” conclusion by examiners. The finding that effects were weaker, although not entirely removed, in those with IAI certification suggests that training may be an appropriate route for reducing the effect of contextual influence and bias in suitability determinations. It was also shown that latent prints that were previously classed as "unsuitable" in a non-biasing context, continued to be judged to be "unsuitable" in a strongly biasing context (a major case in which a previous examiner was purported to have made an Individualization).
forensic decision-making, contextual effects, fingerprints, suitability, IAI certification
1355-0306
144-153
Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter A.F.
0582f787-6e98-45ec-aeb5-4e563f3f39c5
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Wertheim, Kasey
b6612b28-f3b3-4d07-8966-309ed8d83bf7
Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter A.F.
0582f787-6e98-45ec-aeb5-4e563f3f39c5
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Wertheim, Kasey
b6612b28-f3b3-4d07-8966-309ed8d83bf7

Fraser-Mackenzie, Peter A.F., Dror, Itiel E. and Wertheim, Kasey (2013) Cognitive and contextual influences in determination of latent fingerprint suitability for identification judgments. Science & Justice, 53 (2), 144-153. (doi:10.1016/j.scijus.2012.12.002).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We examined forensic fingerprint examiners' suitability determinations of latent fingerprints comparing situations in which the latent is assessed solo (in isolation) versus situations in which it is presented alongside a comparison (matching or non-matching) exemplar print. The presence of a non-matching comparison exemplar led examiners to be more inclined to draw the conclusion that the latent was suitable for comparison compared to when the latent was presented solo. This effect persisted even when the latent presented was highly unsuitable for comparison. The presence of a matching comparison exemplar led examiners to be less likely to decide that the latent was suitable and more likely to decide the latent was questionable compared to solo analysis. This effect persisted even when the latent presented was highly suitable, suggesting a strong main effect. Knowledge of another examiner's previous determination that the latent was unsuitable was found to increase the likelihood that the examiner would conclude that the latent was unsuitable. However, knowledge of a previous “suitable” determination by another examiner did not increase the likelihood of a “suitable” conclusion by examiners. The finding that effects were weaker, although not entirely removed, in those with IAI certification suggests that training may be an appropriate route for reducing the effect of contextual influence and bias in suitability determinations. It was also shown that latent prints that were previously classed as "unsuitable" in a non-biasing context, continued to be judged to be "unsuitable" in a strongly biasing context (a major case in which a previous examiner was purported to have made an Individualization).

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 3 December 2012
e-pub ahead of print date: 27 December 2012
Published date: June 2013
Keywords: forensic decision-making, contextual effects, fingerprints, suitability, IAI certification
Organisations: Faculty of Business, Law and Art

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 374613
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/374613
ISSN: 1355-0306
PURE UUID: e27ba746-350f-422f-8639-da8d3bec4c8d

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Date deposited: 24 Feb 2015 13:37
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 19:09

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Contributors

Author: Peter A.F. Fraser-Mackenzie
Author: Itiel E. Dror
Author: Kasey Wertheim

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