Reaching a verdict
Witness Appeal
Reaching a Verdict
Persuading
a Jury
Witness
Appeal
Reaching a
Verdict
Effect of order
Expert
Witness
Inadmissible
Evidence
Attractiveness
Witness
Confidence
Shields and
videotaping
Decision
making
Majority
Influence
Minority
Influence
Pennington &
Hastie
Loftus
Pickle
Castellow/Dion
Theory
Penrod & Cutler
Ross
Hastie
Asch
Nemeth
Witness Appeal
Attractiveness of the defendant
• Dion et al, hypothesised that physically attractive people are assumed to
have other attractive properties. (Implicit Personality Theory)
• This is known as the ‘Halo Effect’ as described by Asch (1946), where a
positive halo of pleasant characteristics is imagined when one favourable
characteristic is known about an individual.
Therefore what effect on the defendant do you think this will this have in the
courtroom?
• Efran (1974) found good looking criminals received lighter sentences or
penalties UNLESS their looks were involved in the crime e.g. toy boys
conning rich old ladies.
• This is why a defendant is advised to turn up smartly dressed, clean and
tidy for their day in court, appearances do matter.
Evaluation of Castellow et al’s study
• Demand characteristics:
• Sample:
• Method: Lab Experiment:
Evaluation of Castellow et al’s study
• Self-reports:
• Ethics:
• Application:
• June 2010
• Describe how attractiveness of a defendant
can influence courtroom behaviour. (10)
Witness Appeal
Witness Confidence
• Giving evidence in Court is a nerve-racking experience and it would
be completely understandable for witnesses to appear nervous and
hesitate when answering questions.
• However, jurors may perceive this nervousness as evidence of being
unsure or even worse lying.
• When a witness appears confidence, jury’s tend to have more
confidence in what they hear.
Evaluation of Penrod & Cutler’s study
• Method:
• Sample:
• Reliability:
• Application:
Exam Question
• June 2013
• Describe research into the effect of witness
confidence in the courtroom. (10)
Witness Appeal
Effect of shields and videotape on children giving evidence
• In many cases involving sexual abuse, kidnapping or domestic violence a
child is the only victim.
• The courtroom procedures can be very stressful & traumatic for children.
• Sometimes children are allowed to give evidence from behind a screen or
via a video link to reduce this stress.
• However, many defence counsels have argued that this is prejudicial to the
defendant as it may appear to the jury that the child is in need of
protection, suggesting that the defendant is indeed guilty.
Evaluation of Ross et al’s study
• Independent groups design:
• Experiment:
• Ethics:
• Sample:
• Difference between males and females in 1st experiment:
• 2nd experiment: If trial stopped there are differences between conditions –
implications?
• January 2012
• Describe research into the effect of shields
and videotape on children giving evidence.
(10)
Evaluation
• June 2010
• Evaluate the methodology used in witness
appeal. (15)
• Jan 2012
• Discuss difficulties which may be encountered
when researching witness appeal. (15)
• June 2013
• Assess the usefulness of research into witness
appeal in the courtroom. (15)