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OSAC Preferred Terms 

Term Definition

Administrative 

review

An evaluation of the report and supporting documentation for 

consistency with organizational policies and for editorial correctness.

Chain of custody Chronological record of the handling and storage of an item from its 

point of collection to its final return or disposal.

Cognitive bias A set of influences that may affect the reliability and validity of one’s 

observations and conclusions.

Confirmation 

bias

The tendency to search for data or interpret information in a manner 

that supports one’s preconceptions, expectations or desires. 

Contextual bias A deviation in human judgment caused by exposure to information that 

is either irrelevant to the judgmental task or inappropriate for 

consideration.

Control Material of established origin used to evaluate the performance of a test 

or comparison. Or a test performed to demonstrate that a test method 

works correctly and to ensure that data are valid. Positive controls 

confirm that the procedure will produce the expected result. Negative 

controls confirm that the procedure does not produce an unintended 

result. 

CSI effect Perception of the near infallibility of forensic science in response to 

popular media. 

Forensic Related to methods, techniques and processes used to establish 

conclusions and/or opinions, facts and findings which can be used for 

legal proceedings. 

Forensic science The application of scientific principles and techniques to matters of 

criminal justice especially as relating to the collection, examination and 

analysis of physical evidence. 

Interlaboratory 

comparison

Organization, performance, and evaluation of measurements or tests on 

the same or similar items by two or more laboratories in accordance 

with predetermined conditions.

Interpretation Explanations for the observations, data and calculations.

Intralaboratory 

comparison

Organization, performance, and evaluation of measurements or tests on 

the same or similar items within the same laboratory in accordance with 

predetermined conditions.
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Observation Recognizing and noting an occurrence.

Opinion View, judgment, belief – takes into consideration other information in 

addition to observations, data, calculations and interpretations. 

Peer review An independent evaluation of a scientific publication or other work 

product by a qualified second party to evaluate the methods, claims, 

and conclusions, and interpretations therein before dissemination.

Reliability, 

evidentiary/legal

Credibility and trustworthiness of proffered evidence.

Reliability, 

statistical

Consistency of results as demonstrated by reproducibility or 

repeatability.

Result The product of the forensic service provider. This term is broad and 

includes observations, data, calculations, interpretations and opinions.

Technical review A qualified second party’s evaluation of reports, notes, data and other 

documentation to ensure there is appropriate and sufficient support for 

the actions, results, conclusions, opinions and interpretations. 

Validation A process of evaluating a system, method or component to determine 

that requirements for an intended use or application have been fulfilled.

For a complete list of forensic science terms organized by discipline, please visit the OSAC 

Lexicon.