Question 1

What educational qualifications do most practitioners of forensic science have?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bachelor's degree. 
B)  Master's degree. 
C)  Doctoral degree. 
D)  Medical degree. 
A)  Bachelor's degree. 
B)  Master's degree. 
C)  Doctoral degree. 
D)  Medical degree. A

Question 2

Which of the following types of forensic identification evidence are ranked from the strongest to the weakest?

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA, ballistic analysis, fingerprints. 
B)  Fingerprints, DNA, ballistic analysis. 
C)  DNA, fingerprints, ballistic analysis. 
D)  Ballistic analysis, DNA, fingerprints. 
A)  DNA, ballistic analysis, fingerprints. 
B)  Fingerprints, DNA, ballistic analysis. 
C)  DNA, fingerprints, ballistic analysis. 
D)  Ballistic analysis, DNA, fingerprints. C

Question 3

Who pioneered the use of fingerprints in establishing identity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alphonse Bertillon 
B)  Francis Galton 
C)  James Watson 
D)  Charles Darwin 
A)  Alphonse Bertillon 
B)  Francis Galton 
C)  James Watson 
D)  Charles Darwin B

Question 4

If a measure or observation consistently produces similar results through repeated measurements, it is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  validity. 
B)  reliability. 
C)  practicality. 
D)  accuracy. 
A)  validity. 
B)  reliability. 
C)  practicality. 
D)  accuracy.

Question 5

Which of the following refers to whether a technique measures what it is supposed to measure?

Accepted Answer

A)  Validity. 
B)  Reliability. 
C)  Practicality. 
D)  Consistency. 
A)  Validity. 
B)  Reliability. 
C)  Practicality. 
D)  Consistency.

Question 6

For many years, _____ forensic evidence, like bullet matching or handwriting analysis, has been used _____ in the courts.

Accepted Answer

A)  questionable; widely 
B)  solid; rarely 
C)  questionable; rarely 
D)  solid; widely 
A)  questionable; widely 
B)  solid; rarely 
C)  questionable; rarely 
D)  solid; widely

Question 7

The largest DNA database system in the world is maintained by the:

Accepted Answer

A)  INTERPOL. 
B)  FBI. 
C)  CIA. 
D)  Secret Service. 
A)  INTERPOL. 
B)  FBI. 
C)  CIA. 
D)  Secret Service.

Question 8

In which of the following conditions would an analyst not know he or she is being tested?

Accepted Answer

A)  Single blind. 
B)  Double blind. 
C)  Triple blind. 
D)  Experimental. 
A)  Single blind. 
B)  Double blind. 
C)  Triple blind. 
D)  Experimental.

Question 9

The tendency to search out evidence that confirms our beliefs and to ignore evidence that contradicts our beliefs is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  confirmation bias. 
B)  contextual bias. 
C)  self-serving prophecy. 
D)  the fundamental attribution error. 
A)  confirmation bias. 
B)  contextual bias. 
C)  self-serving prophecy. 
D)  the fundamental attribution error.

Question 10

The degree to which two or more observers or analysts independently arrive at the same measurement result is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  inter-rater validity. 
B)  match reliability. 
C)  test-retest reliability. 
D)  inter-rater reliability. 
A)  inter-rater validity. 
B)  match reliability. 
C)  test-retest reliability. 
D)  inter-rater reliability.

Question 11

The process of linking a piece of physical trace evidence to an individual (suspect) is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  anthropometry. 
B)  biometrics. 
C)  forensic identification. 
D)  iris scanning. 
A)  anthropometry. 
B)  biometrics. 
C)  forensic identification. 
D)  iris scanning.

Question 12

Features of fingerprints are referred to as _____, and the prints found at the scene of a crime are called _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  whorls; finite loops 
B)  loops; friction ridges 
C)  minutiae; latent prints 
D)  ridges; hidden metrics 
A)  whorls; finite loops 
B)  loops; friction ridges 
C)  minutiae; latent prints 
D)  ridges; hidden metrics

Question 13

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is very difficult to calculate the rate of false positive matches for most types of trace evidence. 
B)  Judges always welcome information about the rate of false positives on the basis that it is useful. 
C)  Judges often consider professional experience as more important than a solid scientific foundation. 
D)  Many scholars criticize the word 'match' as a misleading and biased way to describe evidence. 
A)  It is very difficult to calculate the rate of false positive matches for most types of trace evidence. 
B)  Judges always welcome information about the rate of false positives on the basis that it is useful. 
C)  Judges often consider professional experience as more important than a solid scientific foundation. 
D)  Many scholars criticize the word 'match' as a misleading and biased way to describe evidence.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a source of bias in forensic identification procedures?

Accepted Answer

A)  Trace evidence is almost always tested in labs closely affiliated with law enforcement and prosecution. 
B)  Forensic science is secretive and fears negative findings. 
C)  Forensic identification procedures are conducted in strictly controlled lab settings. 
D)  Most research on forensic identification techniques is sponsored by financially interested parties. 
A)  Trace evidence is almost always tested in labs closely affiliated with law enforcement and prosecution. 
B)  Forensic science is secretive and fears negative findings. 
C)  Forensic identification procedures are conducted in strictly controlled lab settings. 
D)  Most research on forensic identification techniques is sponsored by financially interested parties.

Question 15

Which of the following statements represents correctly how DNA evidence was received in U.S. courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  The courts have embraced DNA analysis as a scientifically sound and proven technique. 
B)  DNA analysis was subjected to much more scrutiny in the courts compared to other commonly used methods like fingerprint analysis. 
C)  The courts have first embraced DNA but then it fell out of favor and was replaced by more scientifically sound methods. 
D)  DNA has never been fully accepted by the courts because a lot of doubts remain in its scientific validity and relevance. 
A)  The courts have embraced DNA analysis as a scientifically sound and proven technique. 
B)  DNA analysis was subjected to much more scrutiny in the courts compared to other commonly used methods like fingerprint analysis. 
C)  The courts have first embraced DNA but then it fell out of favor and was replaced by more scientifically sound methods. 
D)  DNA has never been fully accepted by the courts because a lot of doubts remain in its scientific validity and relevance.

Exam 4: Section 3: The Psychology of Forensic Identification: Dna, Fingerprints, and Physical Trace Evidence

What educational qualifications do most practitioners of forensic science have?

Which of the following types of forensic identification evidence are ranked from the strongest to the weakest?

Who pioneered the use of fingerprints in establishing identity?

If a measure or observation consistently produces similar results through repeated measurements, it is known as:

Which of the following refers to whether a technique measures what it is supposed to measure?

For many years, _____ forensic evidence, like bullet matching or handwriting analysis, has been used _____ in the courts.

The largest DNA database system in the world is maintained by the:

In which of the following conditions would an analyst not know he or she is being tested?

The tendency to search out evidence that confirms our beliefs and to ignore evidence that contradicts our beliefs is known as:

The degree to which two or more observers or analysts independently arrive at the same measurement result is called:

The process of linking a piece of physical trace evidence to an individual (suspect) is called:

Features of fingerprints are referred to as _____, and the prints found at the scene of a crime are called _____.

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Which of the following is NOT a source of bias in forensic identification procedures?

Which of the following statements represents correctly how DNA evidence was received in U.S. courts?

Section 1: Psychology and Law: a Cautious Alliance

Section 2: Psychology and Law: a Cautious Alliance

Section 3: Psychology and Law: a Cautious Alliance

Section 1: Interrogations and Confessions

Section 2: Interrogations and Confessions

Section 3: Interrogations and Confessions

Section 1: Lie Detection

Section 2: Lie Detection

Section 3: Lie Detection

Section 1: The Psychology of Forensic Identification: Dna, Fingerprints, and Physical Trace Evidence

Section 2: The Psychology of Forensic Identification: Dna, Fingerprints, and Physical Trace Evidence

Section 1: Criminal Profiling and Psychological Autopsies

Section 2: Criminal Profiling and Psychological Autopsies

Section 3: Criminal Profiling and Psychological Autopsies

Section 1: Child Sexual Abuse: Interviewing Children and the Recovered Memories of Adults

Section 2: Child Sexual Abuse: Interviewing Children and the Recovered Memories of Adults

Section 3: Child Sexual Abuse: Interviewing Children and the Recovered Memories of Adults

Section 1: Eyewitness Identification and Testimony

Section 2: Eyewitness Identification and Testimony

Section 3: Eyewitness Identification and Testimony

Section 1: Competency to Stand Trial

Section 2: Competency to Stand Trial

Section 3: Competency to Stand Trial

Section 1: Jury Selection and Trial Procedure

Section 2: Jury Selection and Trial Procedure

Section 3: Jury Selection and Trial Procedure

Section 1: The Insanity Defense

Section 2: The Insanity Defense

Section 3: The Insanity Defense

Section 1: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Section 2: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Section 3: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Section 1: Juries and Judges As Decision Makers

Section 2: Juries and Judges As Decision Makers

Section 3 Juries and Judges As Decision Makers

Section 1: Child Custody Disputes

Section 2: Child Custody Disputes

Section 3: Child Custody Disputes

Section 1: Workplace Law: Harassment, Discrimination, and Fairness

Section 2: Workplace Law: Harassment, Discrimination, and Fairness

Section 3: Workplace Law: Harassment, Discrimination, and Fairness

Section 1: Predicting Violent Behavior: the Psychology of Risk Assessment

Section 2: Predicting Violent Behavior: the Psychology of Risk Assessment

Section 3: Predicting Violent Behavior: the Psychology of Risk Assessment

Section 1: Corrections: Sentencing, Imprisonment, and Alternatives

Section 2: Corrections: Sentencing, Imprisonment, and Alternatives

Section 3: Corrections: Sentencing, Imprisonment, and Alternatives

Section 1: The Death Penalty

Section 2: The Death Penalty

Section 3: The Death Penalty

Filters

For many years, _ forensic evidence, like bullet matching or handwriting analysis, has been used _ in the courts.

Features of fingerprints are referred to as _, and the prints found at the scene of a crime are called _.