Shoe print examinations: effects of expectation, complexity and experience
article
As trace evidence is becoming more and more important in legal cases it has to be ascertained that accurate judgments are made. 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 8 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: acquired features in a noisy background received a lower evidential value than the very same acquired features in a clear background. 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 account that the Dutch procedure is supported by a formal guideline, which may (partly) explain the present findings.
Topics
ComplexityContext effectsObserver effectsShoe print examinationsarticlecontrolled studyfootforensic identificationhumanoffenderpolicepractice guidelinepriority journalshoeshoe print examinationForensic MedicineGuidelinesHumansJudgmentNetherlandsObserver VariationPhotographyProfessional CompetenceShoesTask Performance and Analysisforensic crimeexperienceexpectations
TNO Identifier
16054
Source
Forensic science international, 165, pp. 30 - 34.
Pages
30 - 34
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.