TY - JOUR
T1 - Mock juror perceptions of eyewitnesses versus earwitnesses
T2 - Do safeguards help?
AU - Laub, Cindy E.
AU - Kimbrough, Christopher D.
AU - Bornstein, Brian H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Journal of Forensic Psychology.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - current study examined perceptions of identification testimony as a function of modality (eyewitness versus earwitness), witnessing conditions (good versus poor), and trial safeguards (expert testimony, jury instructions, closing arguments, or none). A total of 426 undergraduate mock jurors read one of 17 trial transcripts, rendered a verdict, and rated the credibility and accuracy of each witness and importance of witnessing factors. Eyewitness and earwitness testimony generally predicted verdict outcome equally. Expert testimony and closing arguments, but not jury instructions, made participants more aware of factors that affect the reliability of an identification when rendering a verdict. When deciding guilt, participants relied primarily on the witness's perceived accuracy and confidence in her identification. We conclude by discussing the policy implications of our results.
AB - current study examined perceptions of identification testimony as a function of modality (eyewitness versus earwitness), witnessing conditions (good versus poor), and trial safeguards (expert testimony, jury instructions, closing arguments, or none). A total of 426 undergraduate mock jurors read one of 17 trial transcripts, rendered a verdict, and rated the credibility and accuracy of each witness and importance of witnessing factors. Eyewitness and earwitness testimony generally predicted verdict outcome equally. Expert testimony and closing arguments, but not jury instructions, made participants more aware of factors that affect the reliability of an identification when rendering a verdict. When deciding guilt, participants relied primarily on the witness's perceived accuracy and confidence in her identification. We conclude by discussing the policy implications of our results.
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84974602589
SN - 0733-1290
VL - 34
SP - 33
EP - 56
JO - American Journal of Forensic Psychology
JF - American Journal of Forensic Psychology
IS - 2
ER -