Deck 1: B: An Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Question 1

What are the four specific Daubert criteria defined by the U.S.Supreme Court that determine when scientific evidence is considered reliable?

Answer 1

1.The research has been peer reviewed.
2.The research is tes (i.e.,falsifiable through experimentation).
3.The research has a recognized rate of error.
4.The research adheres to professional standards.

Question 2

According to Ogloff and Cronshaw (2001),what are the two main functions of expert witnesses? Also,how do expert witnesses differ from ordinary witnesses in court?

Answer 2

• The two main functions of expert witnesses are to provide the court with information that assists them in understanding the issues at hand and to provide the court with an opinion (which must fall within the limits of their areas of expertise).
• Expert witnesses differ from ordinary witnesses in that they are able to provide their opinion on a particular matter,whereas ordinary witnesses are only able to testify about what they have directly observed.

Question 3

Provide a comprehensive (i.e.,broad)definition of forensic psychology.

Answer 3

According to Bartol and Bartol (2006),forensic psychology is defined as (a)the research endeavour that examines aspects of human behaviour directly related to the legal process and (b)the professional practice of psychology within or in consultation with a legal system that embraces both civil and criminal law.

Question 4

What are the Mohan criteria? Outline the four criteria and identify a potential problem with them.

Question 5

Hess (1987,1999)discusses at least seven different dimensions along which psychology and law differ.List four of these dimensions and define precisely what they mean.

Question 6

What is the "general acceptance test"? What is the main criticism associated with this test?

Question 7

Name the three roles that forensic psychologists can play and describe the sorts of activities that each type of forensic psychologist would be involved in (use examples).

Question 8

According to Haney (1980),there are three primary ways in which psychology and law relate to one another.Name,define,and provide an example of each.

Question 9

What are the three major categories of crime theories discussed in your text? List the three categories and describe a specific theory that fits into each category.