When testifying as experts in court proceedings, mental health professionals are usually retained by one of two parties in the dispute. It is presumed by the judiciary and many mental health professionals that the expert remains objective, despite private retention. This stance, however, has been the subject of much debate. / Using an analogue design, this study examined the degree to which expert testimony offered by mental health professionals may be affected by side-of-retention. Graduate students enrolled in an APA-approved doctoral program in Clinical Psychology were randomly placed in one of two experimental groups (Prosecution-retained or Defendant-retained) and reviewed background information and psychological test materials from two court cases involving psychological issues. Upon reviewing the materials the subjects were asked to offer expert opinions regarding the relevant psychological issues. Their conclusions were then compared to determine whether affiliation or side-of-retention affected the conclusions they reached. / Overall, the results indicated that mental health professionals' clinical impressions and conclusions may be affected by side-of-retention. The demonstrated bias was considered to be unconscious and unintentional, indicating that practicioners in the legal and mental health professions must remain sensitive to this issue. Recommendations for further research are offered. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: B, page: 0905. / Major Professor: Edwin Inglee Megargee. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76260 |
| Contributors | Otto, Randy Kurt., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 119 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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