Cognitive bias and the order of examination in forensic anthropological non-metric methods: a pilot study

Research has established that contextual information has the potential to influence the decisions of examiners in various forensic domains, including forensic anthropology. Studies have demonstrated that the non-metric sex estimation methods are susceptible to issues of cognitive bias, however the different types of stimuli that can influence the decision-making process remain understudied. As forensic anthropologists will examine multiple skeletal elements to estimate the sex of skeletal remains, a pilot study was designed to assess the potential of cognitive bias resulting from the order of examination. Two groups performed a non-metric sex estimation of the innominates and the skull with methods from Standards on one individual complete skeleton. Group A examined the skull first followed by the innominates, while Group B examined the innominates first followed by the skull. Results reveal a significant difference between the two groups in the sex estimation of the innominates and the complete skeleton (p = 0.020 and p = 0.022, respectively). This research demonstrates that order of examination for sex estimation may act as context and potentially influence the subsequent analyses. Additional research is necessary to broaden the understanding of decision-making and aid in the establishment of standard operating procedures designed to mitigate the potential effects of cognitive bias

Cognitive bias and forensic anthropology: the power of context in the interpretation of skeletal remains

The central role of human cognition in forensic science and its effect on the interpretation of forensic evidence is being increasingly recognised within the forensic disciplines. It is clear that the concerns over expert decision-making and their vulnerabilities have not only been highlighted in recent key governmental reports, but also created a debate within the literature. This has, within recent years lead to a rise of empirical research focusing on the impact of cognitive biases in all stages of the forensic science process, highlighting that these vulnerabilities are not limited to a specific area of expertise. In forensic anthropology, the presence of cognitive bias, its impact, and how to mitigate its effects are still not fully empirically assessed or appreciated. This thesis seeks to unearth and understand the degree to which contextual biases are present in forensic anthropology, and present ways that can mitigate the impacts in biological profiling. This research addresses the effect of context within forensic anthropological analysis throughout the forensic science process (collection, analysis, interpretation,) through a series of experimental studies. The results of the experimental studies showed that context could have a powerful effect in visual assessments of skeletal remains in sex, ancestry and age at death. Furthermore, the findings also provided an important first step towards understanding the potential effects of initial exposure to irrelevant context at a crime scene in the excavations of skeletal remains, showing a potential for cascading bias on the subsequent assessment of the skeletal remains. An evidence-based approach for dealing with cognitive interpretation issues within the human identification field is presented. The findings of this thesis have contributed to the body of knowledge and provide empirical data that illustrate the benefits of developing a more holistic approach to forensic decision-making from crime scene to court within forensic anthropology and the wider forensic disciplines

The Power of Contextual Effects in Forensic Anthropology: A Study of Biasability in the Visual Interpretations of Trauma Analysis on Skeletal Remains.(Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. February 2013. Volume XIX.)

The potential for contextual information to bias assessments in the forensic sciences has been demonstrated, focusing on the DNA, ballistics, and friction ridge analysis disciplines. This has been discussed in the National Academy of Sciences Report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward. However, in many forensic disciplines, such as anthropology, the presence of bias, its impact on objectivity, and how to mitigate its effects is still not fully assessed or appreciated. Effects that may impact the judgment and decision-making of forensic anthropologists need to be measured. No studies have been performed within the discipline assessing possible biasing effects within visual analysis. Biasability potential within forensic anthropology was examined by constructing an experiment that analyzed the effects of external manipulations on judgment and decision-making in visual trauma assessment. This research demonstrates that bias can be detected in the field of forensic anthropology, highlighting the importance of recognizing issues that may influence interpretation during investigation and analysis, as well as the need for further research on how to mitigate these effects

A cultural change to enable improved decision-making in forensic science: A six phased approach

There has been an increased engagement by researchers in understanding the decision-making processes that occur within forensic science. There is a rapidly growing evidence base underpinning our understanding of decision-making and human factors and this body of work is the foundation for achieving truly improved decision-making in forensic science. Such an endeavour is necessary to minimise the misinterpretation of scientific evidence and maximize the effectiveness of crime reconstruction approaches and their application within the criminal justice system. This paper proposes and outlines a novel six phased approach for how a broadening and deepening knowledge of decision-making in forensic science can be articulated and incorporated into the spheres of research, practice, education, and policy making within forensic science specifically, and the criminal justice system more generally. Phases 1 and 2 set out the importance of systematic examination of the decisions which play a role throughout forensic reconstruction and legal processes. Phase 3 focuses on how these decisions can, and should, be studied to understand the underlying mechanisms and contribute to reducing the occurrence of misleading decisions. Phase 4 highlights the ways in which the results and implications of this research should be communicated to the forensic community and wider criminal justice system. Lastly, the way in which the forensic science domain can move forwards in managing the challenges of human decision-making and create and embed a culture of acceptance and transparency in research, practice and education (learning and training) are presented in phases 5 and 6. A consideration of all 6 connected phases offers a pathway for a holistic approach to improving the transparency and reproducibility of decision making within forensic science

A cultural change to enable improved decision-making in forensic science: a six phased approach

There has been an increased engagement by researchers in understanding the decision-making processes that occur within forensic science. There is a rapidly growing evidence base underpinning our understanding of decision-making and human factors and this body of work is the foundation for achieving truly improved decision-making in forensic science. Such an endeavour is necessary to minimise the misinterpretation of scientific evidence and maximize the effectiveness of crime reconstruction approaches and their application within the criminal justice system. This paper proposes and outlines a novel six phased approach for how a broadening and deepening knowledge of decision-making in forensic science can be articulated and incorporated into the spheres of research, practice, education, and policy making within forensic science specifically, and the criminal justice system more generally. Phases 1 and 2 set out the importance of systematic examination of the decisions which play a role throughout forensic reconstruction and legal processes. Phase 3 focuses on how these decisions can, and should, be studied to understand the underlying mechanisms and contribute to reducing the occurrence of misleading decisions. Phase 4 highlights the ways in which the results and implications of this research should be communicated to the forensic community and wider criminal justice system. Lastly, the way in which the forensic science domain can move forwards in managing the challenges of human decision-making and create and embed a culture of acceptance and transparency in research, practice and education (learning and training) are presented in phases 5 and 6. A consideration of all 6 connected phases offers a pathway for a holistic approach to improving the transparency and reproducibility of decision making within forensic science

Evaluating intuitive decision-making in non-metric sex estimation from the cranium: an exploratory study

In recent years, forensic science has seen a rise in the number of multidisciplinary studies examining the effect of human cognition on the evaluation of forensic evidence. Notably, the House of Lords’ report highlighted the need for further investigation of the consequences of cognitive factors on decision-making processes involved in evidence evaluation and interpretation. Utilizing the concepts of intuitive and methodical decision-making, this pilot study investigated this dichotomy within the field of forensic anthropology, applied to sex estimation from the skull. Participants were asked to estimate the biological sex of six crania in two experiments: once ‘intuitively’ under time-pressure, and once by rationally applying the Acsádi and Nemeskéri method with no time-pressure. The potential influence of experience and its correlation with the participants’ confidence levels was also explored. The results demonstrate that intuitive and methodical evaluations can be consistent with each other, yet consistency decreases as ambiguity increases. Confidence was affected more by time availability, and less by level of experience. The insights from this exploratory study address how decision-making processes are involved in the examination of skeletal remains and offers justification for future exploration into the value of applying wider decision-making theories in the field of forensic anthropology

Sex estimation from virtual models: exploring the potential of stereolithic 3D crania models for morphoscopic trait scoring

UNLABELLED: Modern computed tomography (CT) databases are becoming an accepted resource for the practice and development of identification methods in forensic anthropology. However, the utility of 3D models created using free and open-source visualization software such as 3D Slicer has not yet been thoroughly assessed for morphoscopic biological profiling methods where virtual methods of analysis are becoming more common. This paper presents a study that builds on the initial findings from Robles et al. (2020) to determine the feasibility of estimating sex on stereolithic (STL) 3D cranial models produced from CT scans from a modern, living UK population (n = 80) using equation 2 from the Walker's (2008) morphoscopic method. Kendall's coefficients of concordance (KCC) indicated substantial agreement using cranial features scores in an inter-observer test and a video-inter-observer test. Fleiss' Kappa scores showed moderate agreement (0.50) overall between inter-observer sex estimations, and for observer sex estimations in comparison to recorded sexes (0.56). It was found that novice users could virtually employ morphoscopic sex estimation methods effectively on STL 3D cranial models from modern individuals. This study also highlights the potential that digital databases of modern living populations can offer forensic anthropology. KEY POINTS: First example of Walker's (2008) method applied to a living UK population.Open-source software is a valuable resource for crime reconstruction approaches.Male scoring bias was observed in method application.Forensic anthropologists would benefit from virtual anthropology training to use and interpret 3D models.Digital databases offer more ethical, diverse, modern populations for future research

The value of eye-tracking technology in the analysis and interpretations of skeletal remains: A pilot study

This initial study is the first to use eye-trackers as a tool in order to study gaze pattern strategies and decision making processes involved in the assessment of skeletal remains. Three experienced participants were asked to wear eye-tracking glasses (Tobii Pro Glasses 2) when estimating sex and age-at-death of one set of skeletal remains from a known archeological sample. The study assessed participants' fixation points (the features of the skeleton focused on), fixation duration (the total time spent on each assessment and feature) as well as visit count and duration (the total number of visits and the duration of visits to particular areas). The preliminary results of this study identified differences in gaze “strategies” with regards to fixation points, visit duration, and visit counts between the participants. The data generated provide a starting point for assessing how such technologies could be used in order to more fully understand the decision making processes involved in forensic anthropological interpretations and their role in forensic reconstructions