Contextual bias by Forensic Document Examination trainees: An empirical study from China

IF 1.9 4区 医学 Q2 MEDICINE, LEGAL
Ning He , Hongxia Hao
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The impact of contextual bias has been repeatedly demonstrated across forensic domains; however, research on this topic in China is scarce. To examine the prevalence of contextual bias in pattern feature-comparison disciplines, we conducted an experiment involving 24 forensic document examination students. The aim was to determine whether knowledge of different contextual information influenced their forensic decision-making. Participants were divided into different context groups and tasked with examining whether questioned signatures with ambiguous features matched reference signatures. The results of independent-samples t-tests for their decision score data in the two context groups exhibited a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d > 0.8). Moreover, the submitted forensic reports by participants disclosed a biased evaluation of handwriting features. These findings show how contextual information can bias forensic decision-making in handwriting examination. Context management with complementary strategies such as case triage, cognitive training and decision-making transparency must be implemented to minimize bias in handwriting examination.

法证文件检验学员的语境偏差:来自中国的实证研究
语境偏差的影响已在法医领域被反复证明,但在中国,这方面的研究却很少。为了研究语境偏差在模式特征比较学科中的普遍性,我们进行了一项由 24 名法医文件检验专业学生参与的实验。实验的目的是确定对不同语境信息的了解是否会影响他们的法医决策。参与者被分为不同的语境组,任务是检查具有模糊特征的可疑签名是否与参考签名相匹配。对两个情境组的决策得分数据进行独立样本 t 检验的结果显示出显著的统计学差异(p < 0.05,Cohen's d > 0.8)。此外,参与者提交的法医报告显示,他们对笔迹特征的评估存在偏差。这些研究结果表明,在笔迹鉴定中,情境信息会对法医决策产生偏差。为减少笔迹鉴定中的偏差,必须通过案件分流、认知培训和决策透明化等辅助策略进行情境管理。
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来源期刊
Science & Justice
Science & Justice 医学-病理学
CiteScore
4.20
自引率
15.80%
发文量
98
审稿时长
81 days
期刊介绍: Science & Justice provides a forum to promote communication and publication of original articles, reviews and correspondence on subjects that spark debates within the Forensic Science Community and the criminal justice sector. The journal provides a medium whereby all aspects of applying science to legal proceedings can be debated and progressed. Science & Justice is published six times a year, and will be of interest primarily to practising forensic scientists and their colleagues in related fields. It is chiefly concerned with the publication of formal scientific papers, in keeping with its international learned status, but will not accept any article describing experimentation on animals which does not meet strict ethical standards. Promote communication and informed debate within the Forensic Science Community and the criminal justice sector. To promote the publication of learned and original research findings from all areas of the forensic sciences and by so doing to advance the profession. To promote the publication of case based material by way of case reviews. To promote the publication of conference proceedings which are of interest to the forensic science community. To provide a medium whereby all aspects of applying science to legal proceedings can be debated and progressed. To appeal to all those with an interest in the forensic sciences.
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