Chapter 1 Observation Skills Chapter Outline

Role of Forensic Scientist Identify evidence Record evidence Determine significance of evidence ALL evidence without making judgment about its importance EVIDENCE MUST STAND AS FACT

What is observation? 5 senses Brain unconsciously filters what is judges to be unimportant based on environment and emotion Perception = what we pay attention to; NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE Brains unconsciously looks for patterns and fills in missing info Brain unconsciously applies past knowledge and experience Brain must be trained for accurate observation

Observations Accuracy of an eyewitness observation is affected by Emotion Alone vs group of people Number of people / animals present Type of activity around you How much activity around you Criminal investigations depend on observations by Police investigators Eyewitnesses Forensic scientists

The Innocence Project 1992 by Barry C. Schenk and Peter J. Neufeld at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Re examined convicted cases Used DNA evidence to provide conclusive proof of innocence Found more than 200 wrongful convictions 87% were due to inaccurate eyewitness accounts Fact = only what you actually saw; EVIDENCE MUST STAND AS FACT Opinion = personal belief MUST BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO

How to be a good observer Examine the scene systematically; lay it out like a grid Ex.) from one corner, back and forth, to the opposite corner Turn off your unconscious filters. Observe EVERYTHING no matter how small, familiar, emotional Do not interpret yet. Collect ALL evidence first then look for patterns and draw logical conclusions Write down and photograph everything; remember that our memory is faulty

Observations in Forensics The word “forensics” comes from the Latin word “forensic” Means in the forum, a place to discuss and debate Discussing and debating is NOT forensic SCIENCE Forensic SCIENTISTS collect, examine, report physical evidence

What forensic scientists do Identify Evidence: Observation; specialize in one area Ballistics = firearms and bullets Pathologist = examines tissue to determine death Record Evidence: PROPER DOCUMENTATION verbal testimony not enough Analytical Skills – patience and practice Isolate parts of a problem Organize information

What does Sherlock Holmes have to do with Forensic Science? Read page 9. Use vocab to answer this question. Box in each vocab term that you use.

Paul Ekman Read page 12. Write 10 facts about Paul Ekman’s work. Use a bulleted list.

Related Areas of Science for Chapter 1 BiologyDNA, genetic code PsychologyBrain processing of information Using the five senses to make observations

Timeline for Chapter 1 40 BCE – 410 CEForum in ancient Rome 1887First Sherlock Holmes mystery published 1950’sPaul Ekman begins his research 1992Innocence Project