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.)

Abstract

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