False Confessions: A Study Space Analysis.

Abstract

Confessions are one of the most powerful types of evidence in the criminal justice system. Despite the vast amounts of psychological research conducted, false confessions still remain a pervasive problem around the world. Thus, an examination of the existing work conducted to date is needed to identify any gaps in knowledge or areas of further enquiry. A study space analysis was conducted to explore the adequacy and concentration of studies on false confessions. Using a combination of a number of key terms such as 'false confessions', 'interrogation', and 'vulnerable adults', a search of five databases was conducted. Overall, 230 studies were included in the final analysis. A total of 25 independent variables and 15 dependent variables were identified. However, the study space analysis revealed gaps concerning gender, vulnerability, and training and instructions regarding confessions. A lack of work exploring false confessions across crime types and severity was also discovered.