Deck 4: Section 2: The Psychology of Forensic Identification: Dna, Fingerprints, and Physical Trace Evidence

Question 1

Two fingerprint examiners have independently concluded that the suspect can be excluded as the source of the print. This scenario illustrates the _____ of fingerprint analysis as a measure.

A) inter-rater reliability
B) test-retest reliability
C) temporal consistency
D) interpersonal validity

Answer 1

inter-rater reliability

Question 2

A survey was administered to high school seniors in Anytown. According to the survey results, fewer than 0.5% of the students drove drunk in the previous 3 months. Three months later, the survey was repeated and it again indicated that fewer than 0.5% of Anytown seniors drove drunk in the previous 3 months. On the basis of this information, the survey has:

A) high inter-rater validity.
B) low inter-rater reliability.
C) high test-retest reliability.
D) low measurement validity.

Answer 2

high test-retest reliability.

Question 3

Bullet-matching results:

A) are inconsistent and unproven, even after they have been used in thousands of trials.
B) are generally confirmed by scientific studies to be reliable and can be safely used in court.
C) can always match to a particular suspect, if the gun is recovered.
D) demonstrate that each bullet is unique and can be identified as such.

Answer 3

are inconsistent and unproven, even after they have been used in thousands of trials.

Question 4

Biometrics is the:

A) study of facial features.
B) study of skull shapes.
C) identification of anomalies for the purpose of matching.
D) identification based on measurable anatomical traits.

Question 5

Temporal consistency is sometimes referred to as:

A) test-retest reliability.
B) inter-rater reliability.
C) measure of validity.
D) inter-observer agreement.

Question 6

A "simple match" statement:

A) uses statistical analysis.
B) applies probability categories.
C) defines specific features and their likelihood.
D) does not use statistical terms.

Question 7

Reliability refers to:

A) the consistency of a measure or observation.
B) whether the measure is actually measuring what it is supposed to measure.
C) a situation of low validity.
D) the definition of the details of a match.

Question 8

False positive means that:

A) the expert declares there is no match when it actually matches.
B) the expert declares a match when there is no match in reality.
C) the judge declares a mistrial.
D) the jury nullifies the expert's credentials.

Question 9

The main similarity between Bertillon's anthropometry and modern biometrics is that both _____.

A) use iris color and other facial features to identify individuals.
B) are established fields of science that are widely used in the courts.
C) give rise to doubts about the relationship between skull shape and personality.
D) aim to identify an individual based on measurable anatomical trace.

Question 10

Physical evidence may include:

A) fingerprints, fabric threads, and tire prints.
B) tire prints, shoe prints, and saliva.
C) marks for a tool, fingerprints, and skin cells.
D) bite marks, semen, and blood.

Question 11

A survey was administered to high school seniors in Anytown. According to the survey results, fewer than 10 of them drove drunk in the previous 3 month. However, Anytown police records indicate that more than 30 Anytown seniors were arrested for driving drunk in the previous 3 months. On the basis of this information, the survey has:

A) high inter-rater validity.
B) low inter-rater reliability.
C) high test-retest reliability.
D) low measurement validity.

Question 12

Shelly testifies in court that the DNA recovered at the crime scene is likely to come from the suspect because less than 0.0001% of population have this specific genetic marker. This type of identification is called:

A) simple match.
B) match plus statistics.
C) qualitative statement.
D) inconclusive.

Question 13

A qualitative statement made by an expert when presenting evidence is:

A) a subjective statement corroborated by statistics.
B) a non-statistical statement about the strength of a match.
C) dependent on simple match standards of inquiry.
D) supported by extensive research with peer review.

Question 14

Class characteristics can best be described as:

A) unique to a particular object.
B) common to a general group of objects.
C) unique to a particular person.
D) common to a general group of fingerprint examiners.

Question 15

Which of the following forms of forensic identification evidence is the most objective one?

A) DNA analysis.
B) Fingerprint analysis.
C) Bullet matching.
D) Handwriting analysis.

Question 16

Forensic identification can best be defined as the process of linking:

A) physical evidence to a particular individual.
B) theory to fact.
C) a particular individual to a source.
D) physical evidence to a crime scene.

Question 17

If the imprint came from an Adidas sneaker, it reflects _____; when the imprint has a unique pattern of wear and tear, it reflects _____.

A) individual characteristics; group characteristics
B) group characteristics; individual characteristics
C) a particular source; an origin source
D) an origin source; a particular source

Question 18

Forensic identification may result in "inconclusive" findings in the following situations, EXCEPT when:

A) a fingerprint is partial.
B) a tire thread is incomplete.
C) a fingerprint is smudged.
D) a tire thread is clear.

Question 19

Nicholas was brought in for questioning as a result of detailed police work and asked to provide his fingerprints. Based on fingerprint evidence, he was excluded as a suspect. This means that the latent prints were:

A) too smudged to prove to be his.
B) incomplete and could not be matched.
C) found to be from someone else.
D) inconclusive.

Question 20

Biological evidence may include:

A) blood, saliva, semen, and skin cells.
B) blood, saliva, modus operandi, and fingerprints.
C) semen, skin cells, and fabric threads.
D) skin cells, saliva, and bite marks.

Question 21

_____ the other, well-established forms of forensic identification, DNA identification was subjected to _____ scrutiny to establish its scientific validity and relevance.

A) Just like; rather lax
B) Just like; increased
C) Unlike; rather lax
D) Unlike; increased

Question 22

The text identifies three fundamental problems with forensic identification. Which of the following is NOT one of these problems?

A) Many forms of trace evidence have weak scientific foundation.
B) Forensic identification is too often conducted at crime scenes rather than in labs.
C) There are serious biases and errors in the process, which can lead to incorrect results.
D) The way scientific information is communicated to the judge of jury can be misleading.

Question 23

According to the text, analysis of bullet striations and bite marks for comparison identification is:

A) scientifically sound and widely used in the courts.
B) scientifically unproven but routinely used in the courts.
C) well-established as reliable evidence and should be used more often in the courts.
D) scientifically weak and unreliable but should still be used in the courts.

Question 24

To reduce error and bias, a test should be "double blind," which means that:

A) the analyst does not know the answer and does not know he or she is being tested.
B) the analyst does not know he or she is being tested and does not know the procedure.
C) the examiner is given routine testing twice a year.
D) the examiner is given routine testing twice a year while being blindfolded.

Question 25

The tendency to seek out information that supports our beliefs is known as:

A) expected outcome.
B) integration of thought.
C) confirmation bias.
D) attribution error.

Question 26

Kelly works as a fingerprint examiner. She was shown by police gory photos of the crime scene and told that the suspect in custody is very likely the perpetrator of the murder. Kelly is likely to determine a match between the latent prints and the suspect's prints because of:

A) integration of thought error.
B) contextual bias.
C) generalization bias.
D) fundamental attribution error.

Question 27

Research noted in the text reveals that jurors:

A) have difficulty interpreting statistical statements.
B) understand statistical information reasonably well.
C) rely on qualitative results only.
D) rely on quantitative results only.

Question 28

According to the text, most practitioners working with forensic science hold only a(n):

A) master's degree.
B) Ph.D.
C) bachelor's degree.
D) associate's degree.

Question 29

Forensic evidence is almost always tested _____.

A) at the crime scene, and the results are available within minutes.
B) at the crime scene, and the suspect is identified in 50% of cases.
C) in labs independently financed by a neutral party.
D) in labs closely affiliated with the prosecution.

Question 30

Features of fingerprints are referred to as:

A) latent prints.
B) hidden ridges.
C) minutiae.
D) psychometrics.