Cues to deception in a textual narrative context:lying in written witness statements

Little research has been undertaken into high stakes deception, and even less into high stakes deception in written text. This study addresses that gap. In this thesis, I present a new approach to detecting deception in written narratives based on the definition of deception as a progression and focusing on identifying deceptive linguistic strategy rather than individual cues. I propose a new approach for subdividing whole narratives into their constituent episodes, each of which is linguistically profiled and their progression mapped to identify authors’ deceptive strategies based on cue interaction. I conduct a double blind study using qualitative and quantitative analysis in which linguistic strategy (cue interaction and progression) and overall cue presence are used to predict deception in witness statements. This results in linguistic strategy analysis correctly predicting 85% of deceptive statements (92% overall) compared to 54% (64% overall) with cues identified on a whole statement basis. These results suggest that deception cues are not static, and that the value of individual cues as deception predictors is linked to their interaction with other cues. Results also indicate that in certain cue combinations, individual self-references (I, Me and My), previously believed to be indicators of truthfulness, are effective predictors of deceptive linguistic strategy at wor

Cues to deception in a textual narrative context : lying in written witness statements

Little research has been undertaken into high stakes deception, and even less into high stakes deception in written text. This study addresses that gap. In this thesis, I present a new approach to detecting deception in written narratives based on the definition of deception as a progression and focusing on identifying deceptive linguistic strategy rather than individual cues. I propose a new approach for subdividing whole narratives into their constituent episodes, each of which is linguistically profiled and their progression mapped to identify authors’ deceptive strategies based on cue interaction. I conduct a double blind study using qualitative and quantitative analysis in which linguistic strategy (cue interaction and progression) and overall cue presence are used to predict deception in witness statements. This results in linguistic strategy analysis correctly predicting 85% of deceptive statements (92% overall) compared to 54% (64% overall) with cues identified on a whole statement basis. These results suggest that deception cues are not static, and that the value of individual cues as deception predictors is linked to their interaction with other cues. Results also indicate that in certain cue combinations, individual self-references (I, Me and My), previously believed to be indicators of truthfulness, are effective predictors of deceptive linguistic strategy at workEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Validity of the overclaiming technique as a method to account for response bias in self-assessment questions : analysis on the basis of the PISA 2012 data

The presented work is devoted to study the validity of overclaiming technique (OCT) as a measure of response (positivity) bias. Three main aims of the analyses performed were: a) assess methods' utility to enhance predictive validity of self-report by accounting for response biases, b) investigate proposed mechanisms of overclaiming, c) expand nomological network of the method by presenting a wide set of both individual-level and cluster-level (school) correlates. The obtained results pointed that OCT can be used in order to account for response biases in self-report data. Important differences regarding use and interpretation of the different OCT scoring systems were found and commented. Two systems, one based of signal detection theory (SDT), other on item response theory model (IRT), were proposed as viable scorings of OCT. Choice between them is not trivial as it influences results' interpretation and model specification. Three possible mechanisms of overclaiming were tested: a) motivated response bias (self-favouring bias, socially desirable responding), b) memory bias (overgeneralised knowledge or faulty memory control) and c) response styles and careless responding. The results pointed that all three mechanisms are probable and that overclaiming is most probably a heterogenous phenomenon of multiple causes. However, the analyses pointed out that one of the memory bias hypotheses, the overgeneralised knowledge account, does not hold and that there is much more evidence for the competitive metacognitive account. It is to said that overclaiming is at least partially attributable to insufficient monitoring of one's knowledge. Evidence for a relation between careless responding and overclaiming was also obtained, indicating that at least some of the overclaimed responses can be attributed due to inattentive responding. Obtained results on the relations between response styles and overclaiming were complicated; they warrant further studies as the results here probably greatly depend on the technical details of analysis, e.g. response style definition and coding adopted. The analysed cluster-level covariates demonstrated that only very limited portion of OCT variance can be ascribed to the school-level of analysis. Gender, socio-economic status and locus of control proved to be significantly related to overclaiming among the individual-level correlates assessed. Boys yielded higher overclaiming bias than girls and students of external locus of control were more biased in their self-reports in comparison to students of internal locus of control. The work comprises also analysis of the PISA's OCT latent structure. The results evidenced bifactor structure of the scale, with the general factor interpreted as math ability while the two specific factors were given a tentative explanation concentrated around item difficulty (one specific factor emerged for easy items, one for hard items). These findings point to a multi-dimensional character of OCT and a large role played by domain ability in OCT responding. Moreover, latent class analysis (LCA) performed identified an "overclaiming" group among the participants which was characterised by high overclaiming and unwarrantedly high self-report profile regarding math-related abilities and social life. However, this group counted only around 9% of the total sample. Implications of these findings are commented in the work, along with theoretical integration and ideas for future studies with the use of OCT

Interpersonal deceit and lie-detection using computer-mediated communication

This thesis examines the use of computer-mediated communication for lie-detection and interpersonal deceit. The literature within the fields of lie-detection and mediated communication are reviewed and it is proposed that there is a lack of knowledge surrounding how people use CMC to deceive one another. Qualitative research was carried out in order to address this shortcoming, exploring the self-reported experiences of chat room users who have been exposed to online deceit. Reports were provided that describe the misrepresentation of age, gender, vocation, affection, and appearance. The importance of stereotypes in driving suspicions is also emphasised within the reports. It is suggested that this key characteristic has more dominance in CMC than it would do face-to-face because of the occlusion of the traditional nonstrategic clues to deceit. Evidence for an alternative set of nonstrategic leakage clues was examined further by conducting a variant of the Guilty-Knowledge test within the context of a CMC based crime. It was found that participants exhibited a response time inhibition effect when presented with 'guilty knowledge' and that this effect was detectable through a standard two-button mouse. The use of such nonstrategic cues to deceit was explored further in a study that examined how CMC might be used to add additional control to a Statement Validity Assessment truth-validation test. It was found that the content analysis technique used by SVA was unable in its present form to correctly distinguish between truthful and fabricated statements of participants interviewed using a CMC chat program. In addition, it was found that the deletion-behaviours of participants fabricating a story within CMC provided no quantitative or qualitative evidence that they were lying

Embeddedness within Police recruitment: how social networks and relationships influence the hiring of new police recruits

Studies of police diversity in England and Wales have focused upon both the proportion of Police Officers from under-represented groups when compared with the community that they serve, and the cultural behaviours highlighted in critical inquiries such as the Macpherson and Scarman Reports. There has been no ‘step change’ in the recruitment of diverse police officers in the UK over the last decade, although Home Office figures illustrate a steady growth of under-represented candidates across the wider police workforce. These two main areas of diversity based research fail to examine the underlying social interactions, and the value and function of social networks, that underpin the process of police recruitment. Utilising the theory of embeddedness proposed by Granovetter, this thesis provides a thematic analysis of new police officer’s perspectives on the police recruitment process. This theory posits that processes usually discussed within the economic frame of reference are enmeshed with mundane social interaction and supported through agency and structures inherent within established social networks. Based on 26 semi-structured, in-depth interviews of recruits in a mixed rural and urban police force, this thesis presents a framework of ideas to inform on the concept of embeddedness within police recruitment. The analysis illustrates significant levels of embeddedness between existing social relationships and the police recruitment process within the researched constabulary. The interviews illustrate that existing police based social relationships facilitate an exchange of information between serving officers and candidates. These interactions are both instructional and pastoral. The analysis also demonstrates that pastoral family and partner based support was seen to be more important to candidates than instructional support with regards to the recruitment process. Finally, the nature of the information passed through social ties, is different to that passed through positive action initiatives. In order to improve diversity in policing, these findings suggest constabulary’s recruitment processes need to prioritise pastoral support and building community relations over providing instructional support through existing positive action initiatives

Marks, Morals, and Markets

The prevailing justification for trademark law depends on economic arguments that cannot account for much of the law\u27s recent development, nor for mounting empirical evidence that consumer decisionmaking is inconsistent with assumptions of rational choice. But the only extant theoretical alternative to economic analysis is a Lockean natural rights theory that scholars have found even more unsatisfying. This Article proposes a third option. I analyze the law of trademarks and unfair competition as a system of moral obligations between producers and consumers. Drawing on the contractualist tradition in moral philosophy, I develop and apply a new theoretical framework to evaluate trademark doctrine. I argue that this contractualist theory holds great promise not only as a descriptive and prescriptive theory of trademark law, but as a framework for normative analysis in consumer protection law generally

Faith/less? Market integrity and the enforcement of Australia’s continuous disclosure provisions

The very idea of ‘continuous disclosure’ and all it carries with it – corporate transparency, equal access to information, a level playing field amongst market participants for trade in an entity’s securities – is of serious value to the effective and efficient functioning of the Australian market for capital. The extent to which the structures supporting faith in this ideal are actually effecting it in reality is therefore an important issue for consideration. To what extent then do enforcement efforts surrounding the regime justify any faith placed in the integrity of the market by lay investors? Put differently, should investors feel confident that the immediate release of material information relevant to their trading decisions is well policed, with the effect that there are likely to be few deviations from this ideal standard, and that the market can be trusted to provide information necessary to maintain a level playing field? An important question on par with this preliminary is whether there is anything that might be learnt from enforcement activity of various kinds to improve the type of corporate reporting which has been subjected to it. Inquiry into these questions will serve to temper corporate and investor expectations as to just what the practical requirements and limits of a system of continuous disclosure might be. The purpose of this dissertation is to offer a deeper understanding of the enforcement of Australia’s continuous disclosure regime, from high profile court cases and the imposition of administrative sanctions to ‘everyday’ enforcement activity through ASX price queries and aware letters, and offer an analysis of what might be learnt from them with a view to improving the daily function of continuous disclosure in Australian markets. Such an understanding might at the very least ensure the development of a realistic set of expectations around this interesting, if unusual, set of rules

United I Stand: An Investigation of Power Distance Value and Endorsement of the Great Man Theory Through American Social Identities

Four decades of research on power distance have been applied to cross-cultural leadership studies on an inter-national level. A quantitative investigation was conducted to analyze a uniquely American narrative of power distance, which was developed through a post-structural epistemology. Using ANTi-History theory, endorsement of the Great Man Theory was argued to be a leadership ethos that is related to American power distance value. The GLOBE project’s Power Distance Subscale, Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner’s Achievement Versus Ascription Scale, and an author-developed scale for self-reported endorsement of the Great Man Theory was deployed to investigate culturally contingent leadership ethos on an intra-national level within a representative U.S. American sample. The study was able to validate the Social Authority Scale, using items from the Power Distance Subscale and Achievement Versus Ascription Scale. Demographic measurements of 645 participants from a convenience sample were analyzed to understand how social identity influenced this leadership construct. Significant variations were found based upon American social identities. Implications for intra-national cross-cultural leadership theory are discussed, as well as empirical and theoretical based implications for leadership practitioners. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA: Antioch University Repository and Archive, http://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

Faith/less? Market integrity and the enforcement of Australia’s continuous disclosure provisions

The very idea of ‘continuous disclosure’ and all it carries with it – corporate transparency, equal access to information, a level playing field amongst market participants for trade in an entity’s securities – is of serious value to the effective and efficient functioning of the Australian market for capital. The extent to which the structures supporting faith in this ideal are actually effecting it in reality is therefore an important issue for consideration. To what extent then do enforcement efforts surrounding the regime justify any faith placed in the integrity of the market by lay investors? Put differently, should investors feel confident that the immediate release of material information relevant to their trading decisions is well policed, with the effect that there are likely to be few deviations from this ideal standard, and that the market can be trusted to provide information necessary to maintain a level playing field? An important question on par with this preliminary is whether there is anything that might be learnt from enforcement activity of various kinds to improve the type of corporate reporting which has been subjected to it. Inquiry into these questions will serve to temper corporate and investor expectations as to just what the practical requirements and limits of a system of continuous disclosure might be. The purpose of this dissertation is to offer a deeper understanding of the enforcement of Australia’s continuous disclosure regime, from high profile court cases and the imposition of administrative sanctions to ‘everyday’ enforcement activity through ASX price queries and aware letters, and offer an analysis of what might be learnt from them with a view to improving the daily function of continuous disclosure in Australian markets. Such an understanding might at the very least ensure the development of a realistic set of expectations around this interesting, if unusual, set of rules