THERE ARE TWO DISCUSSIONS FOR THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT EACH DISCUSSION REQUIRED ONE PAGE, ALONE WITH TWO QUESTIONS TWO ASK MY CLASSMATES PER DISCUSSION ALL DETAILS BELOW, ALONE WITH ANY UPLOADED DOCUMENTS.
TO ACCESS THE COURSE E-BOOK,
WWW.CHEGG.COM
USERNAME: HOLMANHOUSTON@GMAIL.COM
PASSWORD: HOUSTON1
THE COURSE TEXTBOOK IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE
Discussion 1: Estimator Variables and Eyewitness Identification
The Innocence Project is an organization that attempts to reform the criminal justice system by exonerating wrongly convicted individuals by conducting DNA testing. According to the Innocence Project, more than 75% of overturned convictions involve mistaken eyewitness identifications (Innocence Project, 2011). An extensive body of literature supports the organization’s claim that eyewitness testimony is often unreliable. Nevertheless, a confident eyewitness can have a profound impact on a jury.
Factors related to the crime scene that can affect the accuracy of eyewitness identification are referred to as estimator variables. Some examples of estimator variables include the degree of visibility at the crime scene, the proximity of an eyewitness to an assailant, and the presence or use of a weapon. Other estimator variables that might impact accuracy include a witness’ state of mind and race. When the race of the perpetrator and the eyewitness are different, the likelihood of misidentification increases (Innocence Project, 2011). With many possible estimator variables that might impact eyewitness identification, forensic psychology professionals must be able to identify these variables and consider how they might influence the reliability of an eyewitness testimony.
Reference:
Innocence Project (2011). Eyewitness Misidentification. Retrieved from: https://www.innocenceproject.org/understand/Eyewitness-Misidentification.php
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review Chapter 7 in your course text, Forensic and Legal Psychology. Focus on examples of estimator variables, and consider how they might influence reliability of eyewitness identification.
Review the Wells & Olson article, Eyewitness Identification. Focus on current findings in the literature regarding estimator variables and their influence on eyewitness testimony.
Review the media piece, “Witness Reliability.” The media player will automatically appear at the top of the Week 2 Resources page. Once the player loads, press the play button. While watching, consider estimator variables that might influence the reliability of the eyewitnesses such as age, race, proximity to assailant(s), lighting, presence of weapon, and so forth.
Think about who might be the most reliable eyewitness and who might be the least reliable eyewitness based on estimator variables.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 3 your choice of the most reliable and least reliable eyewitnesses, and explain why with reference to estimator variables. Be specific, and justify your response with at least one reference to a peer-reviewed article from the Walden Library and at least one reference to the Learning Resources. Be sure to cite references in APA format.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the current literature and the Learning Resources.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
Respond by Day 5 to postings from at least two of your fellow group members in the following way:THERE ARE TWO DISCUSSIONS FOR THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT EACH DISCUSSION REQUIRED ONE PAGE, ALONE WITH TWO QUESTIONS TWO ASK MY CLASSMATES PER DISCUSSION ALL DETAILS BELOW, ALONE WITH ANY UPLOADED DOCUMENTS.
TO ACCESS THE COURSE E-BOOK,
WWW.CHEGG.COM
USERNAME: HOLMANHOUSTON@GMAIL.COM
PASSWORD: HOUSTON1
THE COURSE TEXTBOOK IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE
Discussion 1: Estimator Variables and Eyewitness Identification
The Innocence Project is an organization that attempts to reform the criminal justice system by exonerating wrongly convicted individuals by conducting DNA testing. According to the Innocence Project, more than 75% of overturned convictions involve mistaken eyewitness identifications (Innocence Project, 2011). An extensive body of literature supports the organization’s claim that eyewitness testimony is often unreliable. Nevertheless, a confident eyewitness can have a profound impact on a jury.
Factors related to the crime scene that can affect the accuracy of eyewitness identification are referred to as estimator variables. Some examples of estimator variables include the degree of visibility at the crime scene, the proximity of an eyewitness to an assailant, and the presence or use of a weapon. Other estimator variables that might impact accuracy include a witness’ state of mind and race. When the race of the perpetrator and the eyewitness are different, the likelihood of misidentification increases (Innocence Project, 2011). With many possible estimator variables that might impact eyewitness identification, forensic psychology professionals must be able to identify these variables and consider how they might influence the reliability of an eyewitness testimony.
Reference:
Innocence Project (2011). Eyewitness Misidentification. Retrieved from: https://www.innocenceproject.org/understand/Eyewitness-Misidentification.php
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review Chapter 7 in your course text, Forensic and Legal Psychology. Focus on examples of estimator variables, and consider how they might influence reliability of eyewitness identification.
Review the Wells & Olson article, Eyewitness Identification. Focus on current findings in the literature regarding estimator variables and their influence on eyewitness testimony.
Review the media piece, “Witness Reliability.” The media player will automatically appear at the top of the Week 2 Resources page. Once the player loads, press the play button. While watching, consider estimator variables that might influence the reliability of the eyewitnesses such as age, race, proximity to assailant(s), lighting, presence of weapon, and so forth.
Think about who might be the most reliable eyewitness and who might be the least reliable eyewitness based on estimator variables.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 3 your choice of the most reliable and least reliable eyewitnesses, and explain why with reference to estimator variables. Be specific, and justify your response with at least one reference to a peer-reviewed article from the Walden Library and at least one reference to the Learning Resources. Be sure to cite references in APA format.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the current literature and the Learning Resources.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
Respond by Day 5 to postings from at least two of your fellow group members in the following way:
