CSI effects on jury reasoning and verdicts

Jane Goodman-Delahunty, David Tait

Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paperChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

In the high-stakes context of a simulated terrorist trial, results from two independent samples of Australian community members revealed that the expectations and responses to key forensic scientific evidence by frequent CSI viewers differed from those of their counterparts who were infrequent or non-CSI viewers. For the first time, the mechanism of the CSI effect was linked to an immersive virtual crime scene animation. Mockjurors with more elevated expectations about forensic scientific evidence placed more trust in this evidence, were more persuaded of its value or scrutinised its content less thoroughly than those who did not share these expectations. As a result, they were more prone to give undue weight to forensic scientific evidence admitted by the prosecution, and more prone to convict. This CSI effect was driven more by mock jurors’ expectations about forensic scientific evidence than by how often they watched CSI-type programs.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationJuries, science and popular culture in the age of terror
Subtitle of host publicationThe case of the Sydney bomber
EditorsDaivd Tait, Jane Goodman-Delahunty
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Chapter12
Pages217-234
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9781137554758
ISBN (Print)9781137554741
Publication statusPublished - 2017

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