Article Analysis Introduction
What is an article analysis and how do you
perform one?
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Article Analysis Introduction
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Article Analysis Introduction
Suggested practical:
Looking at eyewitness testimony and its reliability in court,
find one example of where there have been problems when
convicting someone on the basis of eyewitness testimony
and one example of where decisions have been made by the
courts to try to make sure eyewitness testimony is reliable.
Summarise the two articles separately. Then use knowledge
of research in the field to comment on what the two articles
have said.
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Article Analysis Introduction
How to Summarise:
• Read the whole thing first (or you can’t see the wood for the trees).
• Then go back and highlight the main points.
• Then list the key points (or draw a diagram) – Be brief.
• Then write a single, concise summary paragraph from your points.
• Make sure all key information is included.
• Make sure any irrelevant information is ignored.
• Acknowledge the source of the article at the end of the summary.
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Article Analysis Introduction
Suggested Summary – Article 1:
Article 1 describes a real case where after a rape the victim identifies her
attacker because he was bald, shirtless and Hispanic. The police had
formed a group of Hispanic men across the parking lot and asked the
victim to identify her attacker, and the person convicted on her evidence
was the only bald, shirtless man in the group. The victim chose that
person when looking across a dimly lit parking lot and sitting in a patrol
car (presumably not long after the attack). This was an impromptu line-up
and there was no proper lighting. The article and the man’s lawyers claim
that the line-up procedures were flawed and the man wrongly convicted
because of this. The article mentions reforms in some USA State laws
because of such flaws being highlighted, though it says that Florida is not
responding to the claims of miscarriages of justice because of flawed
line-ups.
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Article Analysis Introduction
Suggested Summary – Article 2:
Article 2 shows how courts are responding to research findings in areas
such as eyewitness testimony, where expert witnesses have used
findings to throw doubt on the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Firstly,
guidelines are suggested to make sure police can provide evidence
about the situation at the time of the identification and, for example, what
was said to the witness. This might help to show that there was no
influence, for example, from leading questions. The guidelines in 2006 in
one State at least became law. Police now have to give written evidence
about the procedures at the time of the identification. If they cannot, then
the identification is not admissible in the court.
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