LOGIC OF SIMULATION IN JURY RESEARCH

• NCJ Number: 17834
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 224-233
• Author(s): G BERMANT; M MCGUIRE; W MCKINLEY; C SALO
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 10 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Battelle Memorial Instit
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOR BOTH SUBSTANTIVE AND METHODOLOGICAL REASONS, THE AUTHORS CONTEND THAT LABORATORY RESEARCH INTO THE FUNCTIONING OF MOCK JURORS AND JURIES MAY NOT BE A USEFUL FOUNDATION FOR UNDERSTANDING ACTUAL JURY FUNCTIONING.

Abstract

DATA ARE PROVIDED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURAL VERISIMILTUDE (REALISM) OF A SIMULATED TRIAL CAN PRODUCE SYSTEMATIC CHANGES IN JUROR RESPONSE. HOWEVER, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MODAL VERDICT IN TIME MOST REALISTIC SIMULATION WAS NOT THE VERDICT IN THE ACTUAL TRIAL UPON WHICH THE SIMULATION WAS BASED. IN GENERAL, THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT RESEARCHERS SHOULD MAKE ALL EFFORTS TO MAXIMIZE THE APPLICABILITY OF THEIR FINDINGS BY TAILORING THEIR METHODS AND MEANS OF SUBJECT SELECTION MORE CLOSELY TO THE REALITIES OF COURTROOM PRACTICE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)