U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Vision in Blind Justice: Expert Perception, Judgment, and Visual Cognition in Forensic Pattern Recognition
NCJ Number
              241306
Journal

*Psychonomic Bulletin & Review* Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: 2010 Pages: 161-167
Author(s)
          Itiel E. Dror;
                        Simon A. Cole
Date Published

2010
Length
              7 pages
Annotation
              This paper discusses the interaction between visual cognition, perceptual expertise, and judgment during fingerprint examiners' decisionmaking process in forensic investigations.
Abstract
              This article examines the interaction between visual cognition, perceptual expertise, and judgment during fingerprint examiners' decisionmaking process in forensic investigations. The article reviews current knowledge of and research into the forensic decisionmaking process. Several criminal case studies are discussed that highlight the problems that can occur as a result of cognitive bias and psychological influences. These cases show how bias in initial examinations can lead to subsequent examiners reaching erroneous conclusions because they explained away and dismissed discrepancies due to their own perception and judgment of the actual data. The article also identifies research studies examining bias in forensic decisionmaking that have resulted in conflicting findings as to the actual existence of bias. These findings suggest that if fingerprint examiners can be biased, then so to can firearm and toolmaker examiners, document examiners, and all other types of forensic examiners. The studies also suggest that several factors can affect the perception and comparison of fingerprint patterns, and that these judgments and decisions are subjective and susceptible to outside influences. References
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2009-DN-BX-K225
                                2009-DN-BX-K224


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        Quantified Assessment of AFIS Contextual Information on Accuracy and Reliability of Subsequent Examiner Conclusions
                                Error Rates for Latent Fingerprinting as a Function ofVisual Complexity and Cognitive Difficulty
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2010
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Automated crime analysis
        Automated fingerprint processing
        Body fluid analysis
        Criminal investigation
        Evidence Identification



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A New Tool for Probabilistic Assessment of MPS Data Associated with mtDNA Mixtures
                  The Over-citation of Daubert in Forensic Anthropology
                  Effect of moisture on copolymer fibers based on 5-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)-benzimidazole
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov