Version	1	/	Date	of	Issue:	10.29.15	/	Issuing	Authority:	Forensic	Science	Standards	Board	(FSSB)

OSAC	Research	Needs Assessment Form

Title	of	research	need:

Keywords:

Submitting subcommittee(s): Date	Approved:

(If	SAC	review	identifies	additional	subcommittees,	add	them	to	the	box	above.)

Background	information:

1.	 Description	of	research	need:

2.	Key	bibliographic	references	relating	to	this	research	need:

3a.		In	what	ways	would	the	research	results	improve	current	laboratory	capabilities?

Examining	the	effects	of contextual	bias	at	the	crime	scene	(for	example	and	not	limited	to	the	

presence	of	law	enforcement	on	scene,	fatigue,	psychological	trauma,	shift	work,	nature	of	criminal	

activity)	that	may	effect on-scene	investigations, subsequent	testing	analysis, and	adjudication	of	

case.	

Thomson,	W.	SAMSI,	2015.	Managing	Contextual	Bias	in	Forensic	Science.	

Kassen,	S.,	Dror,	I.,	Kukucka,	J.	Journal	of	Applied	Research	in	Memory	and	Cognition,	2013.		The	forensic	confirmation	

bias:	Problems,	perspectives,	and	proposed	solutions.	

Haber,	R.,	Haber,	L.	Journal	of	Applied	Research	in	Memory	and	Cognition,	2013.		The	culture	of	science:		Bias	and	

forensic	evidence.	

It	is	important	to	read	specific	scene	information	prior	to	the	analysis	of	the	submitted	evidence	

from	the	scene.			By	anticipating	potential	contextual	bias	from	complex	crime	scene	investigations	

the	lab	can	prepare	for	this	and	thereby	improve	their	capabilities.	

Assessing	the	culture	of	contextual	bias	in	forensic	scene	evidence	collection,	

handling,	and	processing.

Crime	Scene	Investigation Sept.	30,	

2016
Version	1	/	Date	of	Issue:	10.29.15	/	Issuing	Authority:	Forensic	Science	Standards	Board	(FSSB)

3b.		In	what	ways	would	the	research	results	improve	understanding	of	the	scientific	basis	for	the	

subcommittee(s)?

3c.		In	what	ways	would	the	research	results	improve	services	to	the	criminal	justice	system?

4.		Status assessment	(I,	II,	III,	or	IV):		

This	research	need	has	been	identified	by	one	or	more	subcommittees	of	OSAC	and	is	being	provided	as	an	

informational	resource	to	the	community.

Major gap	

in	current	

knowledge

Minor gap	

in	current	

knowledge

No	or	limited

current	research	

is	being	

conducted

I III

Existing current	

research	is	being	

conducted

II IV

Understanding	the	basis	for	contextual	bias	of	those	involved	in	crime	scene	investigation	

casework	is	essential.		With	adequate	training	and	education	is	hoped	that	the	crime	scene	

investigator	will	be	aware	of	this	potential	bias	and	therefore	prevent	any	loss	of	reliability	and	

validity	(the	science)	in	the	investigation	at	the	scene.

Eliminate	untoward	effects	related	to	the	crime	scene	investigation	and	subsequent	testing	in	the	

crime	laboratory.

							I
Version	1	/	Date	of	Issue:	10.29.15	/	Issuing	Authority:	Forensic	Science	Standards	Board	(FSSB)

// Approval	date:

(Approval	is	by	majority	vote	of	subcommittee.		Once	approved,	forward	to	SAC.)

1.		Does	the	SAC	agree	with	the	research	need?				Yes 							No		

2.		Does	the	SAC	agree	with	the	status	assessment?				Yes										No

If	no,	what	is	the	status assessment	of	the	SAC:

Approval	date:

(Approval	is	by	majority	vote	of	SAC.		Once	approved,	forward	to	NIST	for	posting.)

Subcommittee September	30,	2016

SAC

Feb.	9,	2017