Shoe print examinations: effects of expectation, complexity and experience

Forensic Science International : Synergy
Jose KerstholtMarjan Sjerps

Abstract

Even though trace evidence is becoming more and more important in legal cases, only little is known about the influence of task and context factors on comparative judgments. In the present study we investigated how expectations and complexity affect shoe print examinations and to what extent differences exist between beginners and experienced examiners. Twelve examiners assessed similarity between a shoe print and a shoe for eight different cases. For half the cases expectation was induced by providing additional incriminating evidence. A complex case meant that the print was relatively noisy, for example because the perpetrator rotated his foot. A simple case meant that the print was clear. The results showed that there was no effect of expectation and no effect of experience. Only complexity affected the examiners' assessments: when the background was noisy, the acquired features received a lower evidential value than when the background was clear. Apparently, examiners compensated for the quality of the print and were more cautious in drawing conclusions when prints were less clear. Even though the results allow for some optimism with regard to the influence of expectations on shoe print examinations, it has to be taken into...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Mar 16, 2016·Science & Justice : Journal of the Forensic Science Society·Nikola K P OsborneRachel Zajac
Mar 16, 2016·Science & Justice : Journal of the Forensic Science Society·E J A T MattijssenR D Stoel
Mar 9, 2010·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Jose KerstholtBert van Leuven
Oct 14, 2008·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Lisa J Hall, Emma Player
Dec 15, 2015·Science & Justice : Journal of the Forensic Science Society·W KerkhoffH J J Hardy
Mar 16, 2013·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Eva Sacchi, Umberto Nicosia
Jul 9, 2014·Science & Justice : Journal of the Forensic Science Society·Nikola K P OsborneRachel Zajac
Jul 6, 2016·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Melanie S Archer, James F Wallman
Nov 7, 2019·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Lee J CurleyJennifer Murray
Jan 30, 2020·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Lee J CurleyJennifer Murray
Jul 7, 2020·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Danielle SneydGabriel Hernandez

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