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Forensic Psychology Paper

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In March 1893, J. McKeen Cattell asked a series of questions which “might naturally be asked in a court of justice” to fifty-six college students at Columbia University. They were given thirty seconds to consider each question and write their answers, along with their degree of confidence in each one. This short, informal study (and the unreliable and inconsistent answers which it produced) became one of the very first on the psychology of testimony, and inspired one of the most significant studies in the history of forensic psychology. Fascinated by Cattell’s findings, psychologist Louis William Stern - along with the help of criminologist F.V. Liszt - attempted to bring Cattell’s design to life by conducting a staged quarrel within the walls …show more content…
Recognized by the American Psychological Association as a specialization as recently as 2001, forensic psychology remains one of the newest branches of applied psychology practiced today. Forensic psychology is broadly regarded as encompassing the research endeavor, involving studies of witness memory, jury decision, criminal behavior, etc., along with the professional practice within or in consultation with the legal system; the two may be viewed in contrast as the production of forensic knowledge versus its application. Forensic psychology may involve either civil or criminal law, and considers various applications including courtroom testimony, child custody evaluations, law enforcement candidate screening, treatment of offenders in correctional facilities, research and theory building with respect to criminal behavior, and the design and implementation of intervention and prevention programs for youthful offenders. All of these applications and more are commonly divided into four general areas of forensic psychology: legal psychology, correctional psychology, police psychology, and criminal …show more content…
PREDICTION: We predict that twenty-five percent of answers given by all students will be inaccurate, and ten percent of the classroom will fail to provide any correct answers. We further predict that the majority of inaccuracies will occur during questions concerning the most excited phase of events. EXPERIMENT: To test the reliability of the classrooms testimony, the group will act out a series of events eventually leading to a climax. At this point, the conductor will intervene and and ask the witnesses a number of questions concerning the events which took place. The level of excitement throughout the skit will vary as the independent variable.
Student A: I believe that Donald Trump will be the greatest president because of his ideas about climate change.
Student B: Donald Trump would be the downfall of this nation. Hillary Clinton should be the president because she is a woman.
Student A: You’re a fool, Bill Clinton would have us build a wall to prevent Mexicans from entering the country, and this country was built on Mexico. Donald Trump is the only answer because of his outstanding public speaking

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