Visual decision aids: Improving laypeople’s understanding of forensic science evidence
Article
Article Title | Visual decision aids: Improving laypeople’s understanding of forensic science evidence |
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ERA Journal ID | 200902 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Ribeiro, Gianni, Likwornik, Helena and Chin, Jason M. |
Journal Title | Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition |
Journal Citation | 12 (2), pp. 230-240 |
Number of Pages | 11 |
Year | 2023 |
Publisher | American Psychological Association |
Place of Publication | United States |
ISSN | 2211-3681 |
2211-369X | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1037/mac0000026 |
Web Address (URL) | https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2022-73876-001.html |
Abstract | Forensic science plays an important role in the criminal justice system; however, research and miscarriages of justice have demonstrated that laypeople can easily misunderstand the results of forensic tests. Given the importance of these test results, interdisciplinary oversight groups have called for a clearer expression of forensic tests’ corresponding error rates. Meanwhile, a large body of research in the medical domain suggests that visual decision aids can improve understanding of statistical information. Seeking to apply decision aids to the forensic domain, we present three preregistered experiments (N = 879) demonstrating that visual decision aids may indeed improve understanding of forensic science evidence. A mini meta-analysis across the three experiments comparing control conditions to visual aids demonstrated a medium effect size of g = 0.35. Therefore, decision aids represent a promising, easy-to-implement way to improve laypeople’s understanding of forensic science evidence, thereby potentially preventing associated miscarriages of justice. |
Keywords | forensic science; forensic evidence; decision aids ; error rates; communicating science |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 520402. Decision making |
480503. Criminal procedure | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Queensland |
University of Toronto, Canada | |
Court of Appeal, Canada | |
University of Sydney |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/yzyq4/visual-decision-aids-improving-laypeople-s-understanding-of-forensic-science-evidence
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