This study assessed the impact of some complex question forms frequently used by attorneys who examine and cross-examine witnesses in courtroom. Fifteen males 15 females from each four student populations (kindergarten, fourth grade, ninth college) viewed a videotaped incident then responded to questions about incident. Half were asked “law-yerese” (i.e., using forms); remaining half for same information simply phrased length. Lawyerese confused children, adolescents, young adults alike....

Scientifically trained and untrained judges read descriptions of an expert's research in which the peer review status internal validity were manipulated. Seventeen percent said they would admit expert evidence, irrespective its validity. Publication a peer-reviewed journal also had no effect on judges' decisions. Training interacted with manipulation. rated valid evidence more positively than did judges. Untrained study confound not affect judge evaluations studies missing control group or...

This experiment examined whether a photoarray administrator's knowledge of suspect's identity increased false identification rates. Fifty participant-administrators (PAs) presented 50 participant-witnesses (PWs) two perpetrator-absent photoarrays following live staged crime involving perpetrators. For one per trial, the experimenter revealed to PA. Each PA sequentially or simultaneously in presence absence an observer. When observer was present, had biasing effect sequential only. pattern...

This study examined whether participants were sensitive to variations in the quality of an experiment discussed by expert witness and they used heuristic cues when evaluating evidence. In context a hostile work environment case, different versions testimony varied presence (i.e., expert's research was generally accepted or ecologically valid) evidence construct validity research). Men who heard more likely find that plaintiff's workplace than men did not hear testimony; influence women's...

We conducted a survey to catalog the state of open science in field psychology and law. addressed four major questions: (a) How do psycholegal researchers define science? (b) perceive (c) often use various practices? (d) What barriers, if any, face or expect when implementing did not make specific hypotheses given exploratory descriptive nature study. surveyed 740 law (45% faculty, 64% doctoral degree, 66% women, 85% White/non-Hispanic) about their perceptions experiences with using...

This article describes an active-learning approach to teaching undergraduate psychology and law course specifically designed improve critical-thinking skills. After reviewing the concepts of active learning critical thinking, we describe present data observations regarding its success. Finally, discuss strategies for handling problems that may arise when a using this approach.

This study examined the ability of jury-eligible community members (N = 248) to detect internal validity threats in psychological science presented during a trial. Participants read case summary which an expert testified about that varied (valid, missing control group, confound, and experimenter bias) ecological (high, low). Ratings evidence quality credibility were higher for valid versus group versions only. Internal did not influence verdict or ratings plaintiff no differences emerged as...

This study examined whether need for cognition (NC) moderated jurors' sensitivity to methodological flaws in expert evidence. Jurors read a sexual harassment trial summary which the plaintiff's presented that varied ecological validity, general acceptance, and internal validity. High NC jurors found defendant liable more often evaluated evidence quality favorably when expert's was internally valid vs. missing control group; low did not. Ecological validity acceptance not affect judgments....

This experiment examined whether jury-eligible community members (N = 223) were able to detect internally invalid psychological science presented at trial. Participants read a simulated child sexual abuse case in which the defense expert described study he had conducted on witness memory and suggestibility. We varied study's internal validity (valid, missing control group, confound, experimenter bias) publication status (published, unpublished). Expert evidence quality ratings higher for...

Abstract This study examined prospective jurors’ expectancies for the verbal and nonverbal behavior of a child testifying in sexual abuse case. Community members (N =261) reporting jury duty completed survey which they described their how alleging would appear when beliefs about discerning children's truthfulness, testimony stress, fairness to trial parties. Within this survey, we varied child's age (5, 10, or 15 years old), type alleged (vaginal fondling penetration), whether actually...

We examined attorneys' experiences, perceptions, and decisions regarding plea recommendations in child sexual cases.

Abstract This study investigated potential differences between expert and lay knowledge of factors influencing witness suggestibility. Expert psychologists ( N = 58), jurors 157), jury‐eligible undergraduates 220) estimated the effects misleading information on accuracy for three age groups in various conditions. Respondents possessed similar age‐related trends suggestibility, positive a pre‐misinformation warning, negative influence longer delays event/misinformation event/final memory...

This experiment examined whether different quantifications of the same damage award request ($175,000 lump sum, $10/ hour, $240/day, $7300/month for 2 years) influenced pain and suffering awards compared to no request.Jury-eligible community members (N = 180) read a simulated personal injury case in which defendant liability already had been determined.Awards were: (1) larger $10/hour $175,000 conditions than control (2) more variable condition conditions.No differences emerged on ratings...

Abstract This introduction describes what the co-editors believe readers can expect in this Special Issue. After beliefs and expectancies are defined, examples of how these constructs influence human thought, feeling, behavior legal settings considered. Brief synopses provided for Issue papers on regarding alibis, children's testimony behavior, eyewitness testimony, confessions, sexual assault victims, judges' decisions child protection cases, attorneys' about jurors' perceptions juvenile...

This study examined the potential influence of adversarial allegiance on expert testimony in a simulated child sexual abuse case. A national sample 100 witness suggestibility experts reviewed police interview an alleged 5-year-old female victim. Retaining party (prosecution, defense) and (low, high) varied across experts. Experts were very willing to testify, but more so for prosecution than defense when was low vice versa high. Experts' anticipated focused prodefense aspects child's memory...

We surveyed a national sample of child forensic interviewers to learn the types information they wanted have before interviewing children, their attitudes and beliefs about interviews, characteristics professional experiences.We predicted (1) would want many different but specifically details child, alleged abuse, disclosure, that find this helpful accessible; (2) consider own interviews be neutral nonleading yield accurate complete from children; interviewers' concern false reports related...

This study examined the effects of support person presence on participants’ perceptions an alleged child sexual abuse victim and defendant. Two hundred jury‐eligible community members (n = 100 males) viewed a DVD 11‐year‐old girl's simulated courtroom testimony either with or without female seated next to her. Participants found be less accurate trustworthy, defendant guilty likely have sexually abused children, when was present. who 100) believed that she had probably coached spent great...

We conducted a national survey of 786 victim/witness assistants (VWAs) to provide descriptive and attitudinal information about support person use in U.S. legal proceedings involving children. VWAs (N = 414) from 46 states returned completed surveys (response rate 53%). Prosecutor-based or parents/guardians most frequently served as persons. One was almost always often used with child victims and/or witnesses all ages. Support persons were extremely common cases sexual abuse, physical...