Question 1

Which of the following types of forensic identification evidence are ranked from the strongest to the weakest?&#10;A) DNA, ballistic analysis, fingerprints.&#10;B) Fingerprints, DNA, ballistic analysis.&#10;C) DNA, fingerprints, ballistic analysis.&#10;D) Ballistic analysis, DNA, fingerprints.

Accepted Answer

DNA is considered the strongest form of forensic identification evidence because it is unique to each individual and has a very low chance of producing a false match. Fingerprints are the second strongest form of identification evidence due to their unique patterns and the high level of accuracy in matching them. Ballistic analysis is the weakest form of identification evidence because it relies on the comparison of tool marks that can be easily altered or masked, leading to false identifications. Therefore, the rank from strongest to weakest is DNA, fingerprints, and ballistic analysis, which is in line with option C.

Question 2

Which of the following refers to whether a technique measures what it is supposed to measure?&#10;A) Validity.&#10;B) Reliability.&#10;C) Practicality.&#10;D) Consistency.

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to whether a technique measures what it is supposed to measure. Reliability refers to the consistency of results when a technique is repeated. Practicality refers to the ease of use and feasibility of a technique. Consistency is another term for reliability.

Question 3

The degree to which two or more observers or analysts independently arrive at the same measurement result is called:&#10;A) inter-rater validity.&#10;B) match reliability.&#10;C) test-retest reliability.&#10;D) inter-rater reliability.

Accepted Answer

Inter-rater reliability is the degree to which two or more observers or analysts independently arrive at the same measurement result. Therefore, option D is the correct answer. Option A - inter-rater validity - is not a recognized term. Option B - match reliability - is not a recognized term in psychometrics. Option C - test-retest reliability - refers to the consistency of a measure when the same test is administered at two different points in time.

Question 4

The tendency to search out evidence that confirms our beliefs and to ignore evidence that contradicts our beliefs is known as:&#10;A) confirmation bias.&#10;B) contextual bias.&#10;C) self-serving prophecy.&#10;D) the fundamental attribution error.

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for and focus on evidence that supports what we already believe, while ignoring or downplaying evidence that contradicts our beliefs. This cognitive bias can lead to errors in judgment and decision-making, as well as a resistance to new information or perspectives.

Question 5

In which of the following conditions would an analyst not know he or she is being tested?&#10;A) Single blind.&#10;B) Double blind.&#10;C) Triple blind.&#10;D) Experimental.

Accepted Answer

In a double blind condition, neither the analyst nor the participants know who is receiving the treatment or the placebo, therefore the analyst would not know they are being tested. In a single blind condition, the analyst is aware they are being tested but the participants are not. In a triple blind condition, both the analyst and the participants are unaware of who is receiving the treatment or the placebo. Experimental is not a condition of being tested, but rather a type of study design.

Question 6

What educational qualifications do most practitioners of forensic science have?&#10;A) Bachelor's degree.&#10;B) Master's degree.&#10;C) Doctoral degree.&#10;D) Medical degree.

Accepted Answer

Most practitioners of forensic science have a Bachelor's degree. However, some may also have a Master's or Doctoral degree in a related field such as chemistry, biology, or forensic science. A medical degree is not typically required for practitioners of forensic science unless they specialize in forensic pathology.

Question 7

Who pioneered the use of fingerprints in establishing identity?&#10;A) Alphonse Bertillon&#10;B) Francis Galton&#10;C) James Watson&#10;D) Charles Darwin

Accepted Answer

Francis Galton is known as the pioneer of using fingerprints for identifying individuals. He began studying fingerprints in the 1880s and published a book in 1892 called "Fingerprints" which established the scientific basis for fingerprint identification.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a source of bias in forensic identification procedures?&#10;A) Trace evidence is almost always tested in labs closely affiliated with law enforcement and prosecution.&#10;B) Forensic science is secretive and fears negative findings.&#10;C) Forensic identification procedures are conducted in strictly controlled lab settings.&#10;D) Most research on forensic identification techniques is sponsored by financially interested parties.

Accepted Answer

Forensic identification procedures may be conducted in a strictly controlled lab setting, but this does not eliminate the potential for bias. A controlled setting does not necessarily mean that the methods used are unbiased, as there could still be flaws or limitations in the methods themselves. Choices A, B, and D are all sources of potential bias in forensic identification procedures.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is NOT true?&#10;A) It is very difficult to calculate the rate of false positive matches for most types of trace evidence.&#10;B) Judges always welcome information about the rate of false positives on the basis that it is useful.&#10;C) Judges often consider professional experience as more important than a solid scientific foundation.&#10;D) Many scholars criticize the word 'match' as a misleading and biased way to describe evidence.

Accepted Answer

Judges do not always welcome information about the rate of false positives, as it may complicate the decision-making process and create confusion in the courtroom. Some judges may also prioritize other factors over scientific evidence, such as witness testimony or circumstantial evidence.

Question 10

If a measure or observation consistently produces similar results through repeated measurements, it is known as:&#10;A) validity.&#10;B) reliability.&#10;C) practicality.&#10;D) accuracy.

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of a measure or observation in producing similar results through repeated measurements. Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure or observation in capturing what it is intended to measure, practicality refers to the usefulness and feasibility of a measure or observation in a given context, and accuracy refers to the closeness of a measure or observation to the true value of what it is intended to measure.

Question 11

The largest DNA database system in the world is maintained by the:&#10;A) INTERPOL.&#10;B) FBI.&#10;C) CIA.&#10;D) Secret Service.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The largest DNA database system in the...

Question 12

For many years, _____ forensic evidence, like bullet matching or handwriting analysis, has been used _____ in the courts.&#10;A) questionable; widely&#10;B) solid; rarely&#10;C) questionable; rarely&#10;D) solid; widely

Accepted Answer

The answer of For many years, _____ forensic evidence, like...

Question 13

Features of fingerprints are referred to as _____, and the prints found at the scene of a crime are called _____.&#10;A) whorls; finite loops&#10;B) loops; friction ridges&#10;C) minutiae; latent prints&#10;D) ridges; hidden metrics

Accepted Answer

The answer of Features of fingerprints are referred to as...

Question 14

The process of linking a piece of physical trace evidence to an individual (suspect) is called:&#10;A) anthropometry.&#10;B) biometrics.&#10;C) forensic identification.&#10;D) iris scanning.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The process of linking a piece of...

Question 15

Which of the following statements represents correctly how DNA evidence was received in U.S. courts?&#10;A) The courts have embraced DNA analysis as a scientifically sound and proven technique.&#10;B) DNA analysis was subjected to much more scrutiny in the courts compared to other commonly used methods like fingerprint analysis.&#10;C) The courts have first embraced DNA but then it fell out of favor and was replaced by more scientifically sound methods.&#10;D) DNA has never been fully accepted by the courts because a lot of doubts remain in its scientific validity and relevance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements represents correctly...

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