Psychologists, legal practitioners and scholars share the knowledge that honest eyewitnesses can err in their attempts to identify the perpetrator of a crime. This thesis reports an experimental investigation of the extent to which expert evidence and judicial instruction can improve juror ability to discriminate between accurate and inaccurate identifications. Special attention is also paid to the logic of inferences which have been made by psychologists regarding the efficacy of expert evidence, and compares methodologies adopting direct measures of participant Sensitivity to Eyewitness Accuracy (SEA) with those that can only indirectly assess this construct. Study 1 surveys the knowledge and opinions of legal professionals regarding eyewitness identification issues (n = 35), showing that respondents expressed doubts that judicial instructions would exert an effect equivalent to that of eyewitness expert evidence. Accordingly, Experiments 1 to 4 (Experiment 1, n = 104; Experiment 2, n = 238; Experiment 3, n = 228; Experiment 4, n = 297) were conducted to directly assess the relative impacts of judicial instruction and expert evidence on participant juror SEA. The methodology utilised in these investigations incorporated the testimony of real eyewitnesses to a staged crime scenario in order to assess the impact of instruction on juror ability to discriminate between known accurate and known inaccurate eyewitnesses. Overall, little evidence was found to support the notion that expert evidence is more effective than judicial instruction, as no significant association was identified between instruction type and SEA. This result was found to hold irrespective of the objective quality of the expert?s testimony (accurate or erroneous). In light of the results from Experiments 1 to 4, Experiment 5 was designed to investigate why the experts were not able to improve the discrimination accuracy of the jurors. This study focused on the extent to which participants of varying levels of expertise could correctly classify eyewitness accuracy. The results of Experiment 5 (n = 145) suggest that experts were no better able to discriminate between accurate and inaccurate eyewitnesses than novice laypeople. Overall, the evidence reported in this thesis raises serious questions regarding the utility of eyewitness expertise in the completion of eyewitness discrimination tasks.

Psychologists, legal practitioners and scholars share the knowledge that honest eyewitnesses can err in their attempts to identify the perpetrator of a crime. This thesis reports an experimental investigation of the extent to which expert evidence and judicial instruction can improve juror ability to discriminate between accurate and inaccurate identifications. Special attention is also paid to the logic of inferences which have been made by psychologists regarding the efficacy of expert evidence, and compares methodologies adopting direct measures of participant Sensitivity to Eyewitness Accuracy (SEA) with those that can only indirectly assess this construct. Study 1 surveys the knowledge and opinions of legal professionals regarding eyewitness identification issues (n = 35), showing that respondents expressed doubts that judicial instructions would exert an effect equivalent to that of eyewitness expert evidence. Accordingly, Experiments 1 to 4 (Experiment 1, n = 104; Experiment 2, n = 238; Experiment 3, n = 228; Experiment 4, n = 297) were conducted to directly assess the relative impacts of judicial instruction and expert evidence on participant juror SEA. The methodology utilised in these investigations incorporated the testimony of real eyewitnesses to a staged crime scenario in order to assess the impact of instruction on juror ability to discriminate between known accurate and known inaccurate eyewitnesses. Overall, little evidence was found to support the notion that expert evidence is more effective than judicial instruction, as no significant association was identified between instruction type and SEA. This result was found to hold irrespective of the objective quality of the expert?s testimony (accurate or erroneous). In light of the results from Experiments 1 to 4, Experiment 5 was designed to investigate why the experts were not able to improve the discrimination accuracy of the jurors. This study focused on the extent to which participants of varying levels of expertise could correctly classify eyewitness accuracy. The results of Experiment 5 (n = 145) suggest that experts were no better able to discriminate between accurate and inaccurate eyewitnesses than novice laypeople. Overall, the evidence reported in this thesis raises serious questions regarding the utility of eyewitness expertise in the completion of eyewitness discrimination tasks.

The goal of this paper is to outline the legal and scientific implications of the admissibility standard defined in Daubert v. Merrel Row Pharmeceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993). The evolution of scientific admissibility is discussed. In addition, the author looks at criticisms of Daubert from the legal and psychological literature. Empirical data is presented with respect to judges’ abilities to act as “gate keepers” and jurors’ sensitivity to expert testimony. The author concludes with a discussion of the limitations and implications of this research.

A relação paciente profissional na Odontologia é influenciada pela cultura e pelas relações comerciais, após a criação do código de defesa do consumidor, as pessoas passaram a observar mais os seus direitos e a ficarem mais exigentes quanto a compra de produtos ou prestação de serviços. Essa condição fez com que o número de demandas cíveis contra Cirurgiões-Dentistas aumentasse em grande escala, isso por sua vez mostrou a necessidade do profissional estar atento para essa nova condição e a conhecer melhor as leis a quais estão submetidos, Código de Ética Odontológico, Código de Defesa do Consumidor, Código Civil, Código Penal e Constituição Federal. Nos processos contra Dentistas, é imprescindível que haja a perícia técnica, para que seja comprovada a culpa do profissional, para tal há a necessidade do Odontolegista, profissional que deve estar capacitado a atuar na interface da relação entre Direito e Odontologia, utilizando conhecimentos técnicos específicos na busca da verdade. Este estudo buscou na literatura científica trabalhos que versam sobre a responsabilidade civil do Cirurgião-Dentista, bem como analisou sentenças das primeiras varas cíveis do estado de São Paulo em ações movidas contra este profissional no tangente a danos morais e danos materiais, as sentenças foram catalogadas em planilha do Excel e submetidas a análises bivariadas por meios dos testes de Fisher e Qui-quadrado. As variáveis independentes que apresentaram níveis de significância p 0,1 foram habilitadas para análise de associação multivariada com emprego de regressão logística, método backward, com intervalo de confiança de 95%, permanecendo no modelo final as variáveis com nível de significância p 0,05. Encontrou-se 411 sentenças que foram emitidas em processos contra Cirurgiões-Dentistas, entretanto somente em 87 foram solicitadas ou executadas as perícias odontológicas, representando 21,17% do número de demandas cíveis. Das 87 sentenças analisadas, 32 correspondem a indivíduos do gênero masculino e 55 do gênero feminino e em 49 processos os autores tiveram auxilio da justiça gratuita, dos pedidos formulados nas iniciais, 21 figuraram como improcedentes, 32 como parcialmente procedentes e 34 procedentes. Quando o nexo causal é relatado na sentença, há cerca de 50 vezes mais chance de a perícia ter sido realizada e ela tem 25 vezes mais chance de ser acatada pelo Juíz. Em decisões desfavoráveis ao Cirurgião-Dentista, há cerca de 90% menos chance de ter havido perícia, quando a perícia aparece relatada pelo Juiz na sentença, a chance da decisão ser desfavorável ao Cirurgião-Dentista diminui em 85%. Pode-se concluir que a perícia é um procedimento indispensável para a defesa do Profissional Odontólogo, evidenciando os aspectos técnicos necessários para o correto julgamento e aumentando a possibilidade de defesa do Cirurgião-Dentista. / Culture and commercial relations influence the relationship between patient and dentistry professionals. After the Code of Costumer Protection created in Brazil, people begun to observe more their rights and become more demanding about the purchase of products or services. This condition made the civil suits against Dental Surgeons raised on a large scale, which highlights the necessity of a more aware and prepared professional for this new scenario. Dentistry Ethics Code, the Code of Costumer Protection, Civil Rights, Criminal Code and Federal Constitution are some of the new necessities of a modern dental surgeon. In litigation against dentists, it is essential that a technical expertise perform a throughout exam of the patient so that the professionals fault or reason is proven. This technical expertise is called Forensic Odontologist, a professional who must be able to act in the interface between the Law and Dentistry, using specific technical knowledge in search of truth. The aim of this study was to sought the scientific literature papers regarding dentistry civil responsibility, as well as analyzed sentences of the first civil courts of Sao Paulo state in actions brought against dentists related to moral and material damages. The sentences were listed on Excel spreadsheets and submitted to bivariate analyzes by means of the Fishers exact and Chi-square tests. The independent variables that presented levels of significance p 0.1 were enabled for analysis of multivariate association with logistic regression, backward method, with 95% confidence interval, remaining in the final model the variables with significance level p0,05. A total of 411 judgments against dental surgeons were found, but only in 87 sentences a Forensic Odontologist was requested or performed an appraisal representing 21.17% of the number of civil suits. Of the 87 judgments analyzed, 32 corresponded to males and 55 females, and in 49 cases the authors received free legal aid, from the petitions formulated in the initials, 21 were considered as irrelevant, 32 as partially proceeds and 34 proceeds. Sentences based on Forensic Odontologist appraisal leads to 50 times more causal nexus reported, and sentences with causal nexus leads to 25 times more acceptance by the judge. Also, in 90% of sentences without appraisals leads to unfavorable sentences to dentists, while when judges uses the appraisals in sentences the unfavorable results to dentists lowers in 85%. It can be concluded that the Forensic Odontolgist appraisal is an indispensable procedure for the Dental Surgeon defense, evidencing the necessary technical aspects for the correct judgment and increasing the possibility of defense for Dentists.

Este trabalho analisa a influência da qualidade na elaboração dos laudos periciais, e seu impacto nas decisões judiciais. Mostra os pontos aos quais o perito deve se ater para que seu laudo atinja o objetivo: transmitir corretamente a mensagem desejada, o resultado da perícia, através de um discurso compreensível para o magistrado, que possui um modo de pensar diferente do profissional tecnológico. Vários fatores influenciam na qualidade do laudo, e um laudo bem elaborado, bem como a proposição dos quesitos, envolve conhecimentos multidisciplinares em sua confecção. / This work analyzes the influence of quality in the preparation of forensic reports, and its impact on judicial decisions. It shows the key aspects that the expert should take care for his/her report get to its main objective: to correctly convey the desired message, the result of expertise, in a way that is understandable to the magistrate, who has a different way of thinking that is different from the technology professional. Several factors influence the quality of a forensic report. The development process of a well prepared report and the proposition of the issues of fact to be clarified, involve multi and inter disciplinary knowledge.

A perícia é uma ferramenta utilizada pelo sistema judiciário para que informações técnicas adicionais ou de melhor acurácia sejam apuradas e possam assim auxiliar na tomada de decisão sentencial. O presente estudo tem a proposta de analisar laudos de jurisprudências da justiça do trabalho visando determinar quão importante a perícia médica/odontológica tem sido para tomada de decisão pelo juiz. Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal, descritivo e analítico no qual foi realizado levantamento dos dados por meio de análise documental. Setenta e dois processos de ações trabalhistas foram avaliados e a seleção foi realizada eliminando-se as ementas repetidas e ações por dissídios coletivos resultando em 38 processos no período entre 1996 a 2014. As variáveis DORT como consequência do dano (p=0,1723), Perícia do tipo médica/odontológica (p=0,1504) e Perícia do tipo Técnica (p=0,1975) foram habilitadas para elaboração de modelo ajustado com emprego de regressão logística múltipla, método backward, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. As variáveis Perícia do tipo Médica (OR= 14,5319; IC 95%= 2,3263 a 90,7780) e DORT como consequência do dano (OR= 7,8989; IC 95%= 1,2755 a 48,9151) permaneceram no modelo ajustado final, revelando que a chance do juiz necessitar de perícia é 14 vezes maior quando esta é do tipo médica/odontológica e quando o dano sofrido envolve DORT, há 7,89 vezes mais chances de o juiz acatar a perícia. A análise do modelo ajustado com emprego da Curva ROC revelou ser muito boa sua capacidade preditiva (AUC=0,8661; SE=0,06194; IC 95%= 0,7163 a 0,9545). A perícia médica/odontológica possui alta relevância em ações trabalhistas, caracterizando-se como uma prova fundamental para a tomada de decisão pelos magistrados. / Expertise is a tool used by the judiciary for additional technical information or better accuracy can be cleared and can be assist in making decision sentence. This study is the proposal to examine case law reports of the labor courts in order to determine how important the medical/dental expertise has been for decision making by the judge. This is an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study that was conducted through the data of document analysis. Seventy-two cases of labor claims have been assessed and the selection was carried out eliminating the repeated menus and actions for collective bargaining resulting in 38 cases from 1996 to 2014. The variables \"WRMD as a result of damage\" (p=0,1723), \"Medical/dental Expertise\" (p=0.1504) and \"Technical Expertise\" (p=0.1975) were able to elaborate adjusted model with the use of multiple logistic regression, backward method, with 95% confidence interval. The variable Medical Expertise\"(OR= 14,5319; IC 95%= 2,3263 to 90,7780) and \"WRMD as a result of damage\" (OR= 7,8989; IC 95%= 1,2755 to 48,9151) remained in the final model adjusted, revealing that the chance of the judge require expertise is 14 times more than when it is the medical /dental type and when the damage suffered involves WRMD there is 7,89 times more chance to the judge accept expertise. The analysis of the adjusted model with use of ROC curve was found to be very good its predictive capacity (AUC= 0,8661; SE= 0,06194; IC 95%= 0,7163 to 0,9545). The medical/dental expertise is of high relevance to labor actions, characterized as a essential proof for decision making by judges.

A perícia é uma ferramenta utilizada pelo sistema judiciário para que informações técnicas adicionais ou de melhor acurácia sejam apuradas e possam assim auxiliar na tomada de decisão sentencial. O presente estudo tem a proposta de analisar laudos de jurisprudências da justiça do trabalho visando determinar quão importante a perícia médica/odontológica tem sido para tomada de decisão pelo juiz. Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal, descritivo e analítico no qual foi realizado levantamento dos dados por meio de análise documental. Setenta e dois processos de ações trabalhistas foram avaliados e a seleção foi realizada eliminando-se as ementas repetidas e ações por dissídios coletivos resultando em 38 processos no período entre 1996 a 2014. As variáveis DORT como consequência do dano (p=0,1723), Perícia do tipo médica/odontológica (p=0,1504) e Perícia do tipo Técnica (p=0,1975) foram habilitadas para elaboração de modelo ajustado com emprego de regressão logística múltipla, método backward, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. As variáveis Perícia do tipo Médica (OR= 14,5319; IC 95%= 2,3263 a 90,7780) e DORT como consequência do dano (OR= 7,8989; IC 95%= 1,2755 a 48,9151) permaneceram no modelo ajustado final, revelando que a chance do juiz necessitar de perícia é 14 vezes maior quando esta é do tipo médica/odontológica e quando o dano sofrido envolve DORT, há 7,89 vezes mais chances de o juiz acatar a perícia. A análise do modelo ajustado com emprego da Curva ROC revelou ser muito boa sua capacidade preditiva (AUC=0,8661; SE=0,06194; IC 95%= 0,7163 a 0,9545). A perícia médica/odontológica possui alta relevância em ações trabalhistas, caracterizando-se como uma prova fundamental para a tomada de decisão pelos magistrados. / Expertise is a tool used by the judiciary for additional technical information or better accuracy can be cleared and can be assist in making decision sentence. This study is the proposal to examine case law reports of the labor courts in order to determine how important the medical/dental expertise has been for decision making by the judge. This is an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study that was conducted through the data of document analysis. Seventy-two cases of labor claims have been assessed and the selection was carried out eliminating the repeated menus and actions for collective bargaining resulting in 38 cases from 1996 to 2014. The variables \"WRMD as a result of damage\" (p=0,1723), \"Medical/dental Expertise\" (p=0.1504) and \"Technical Expertise\" (p=0.1975) were able to elaborate adjusted model with the use of multiple logistic regression, backward method, with 95% confidence interval. The variable Medical Expertise\"(OR= 14,5319; IC 95%= 2,3263 to 90,7780) and \"WRMD as a result of damage\" (OR= 7,8989; IC 95%= 1,2755 to 48,9151) remained in the final model adjusted, revealing that the chance of the judge require expertise is 14 times more than when it is the medical /dental type and when the damage suffered involves WRMD there is 7,89 times more chance to the judge accept expertise. The analysis of the adjusted model with use of ROC curve was found to be very good its predictive capacity (AUC= 0,8661; SE= 0,06194; IC 95%= 0,7163 to 0,9545). The medical/dental expertise is of high relevance to labor actions, characterized as a essential proof for decision making by judges.

Este trabalho analisa a influência da qualidade na elaboração dos laudos periciais, e seu impacto nas decisões judiciais. Mostra os pontos aos quais o perito deve se ater para que seu laudo atinja o objetivo: transmitir corretamente a mensagem desejada, o resultado da perícia, através de um discurso compreensível para o magistrado, que possui um modo de pensar diferente do profissional tecnológico. Vários fatores influenciam na qualidade do laudo, e um laudo bem elaborado, bem como a proposição dos quesitos, envolve conhecimentos multidisciplinares em sua confecção. / This work analyzes the influence of quality in the preparation of forensic reports, and its impact on judicial decisions. It shows the key aspects that the expert should take care for his/her report get to its main objective: to correctly convey the desired message, the result of expertise, in a way that is understandable to the magistrate, who has a different way of thinking that is different from the technology professional. Several factors influence the quality of a forensic report. The development process of a well prepared report and the proposition of the issues of fact to be clarified, involve multi and inter disciplinary knowledge.

Recently, expert testimony in sexual assault trials shifted from an emphasis on Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS) to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and experts have tied these diagnoses either loosely or tightly to the victim’s condition following sexual assault. In the current study, 326 jury-eligible adults completed a survey on Amazon Mechanical Turk in which they read a synopsis of a sexual assault trial and an expert testimony with either RTS, PTSD or neither; along with either no, loose, or tight links made between the diagnosis and the victim’s condition. There was no main effect of diagnosis label but testimony linkage did have an effect on verdicts. Women gave more guilty verdicts due to their lower levels of Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA), and the effect of gender partially depended on RMA. Implications for how expert testimony can affect defendants’ and plaintiffs’ credibility are discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of British Columbia, 1999. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Sept. 22, 2005). Includes bibliographical references and index. Issued also in microfiche. Issued also in print.