Generalizability & Mediation of the Videotaped-Confession Bias

Investigator(s):

G. Daniel Lassiter (PI)

Sponsor:

Ohio University, OH 45701 7405932857

Start Date/Expiration Date

1996-07-01 to 1999-06-30 (amended 1996-05-28)

Awarded Amount to Date:

$169,903

Abstract: 9514966 Lassiter Within the criminal justice system, there is a growing trend toward utilizing videotape technology to record and to present confession evidence. However, despite the seeming objectivity associated with the making and subsequent evaluation of a videotaped interrogation and confession, the literature on salience effects in causal attribution suggests that certain aspects of this process could inadvertently bias or prejudice judgments of voluntariness and guilt. Consistent with this literature, our preliminary studies show that, relative to other confession-presentation formats (e. g., audiotapes and transcripts), videotapes that are recorded with the focus on the confessor tend to produce judgments of greater voluntariness and guilt. These findings have important legal implications. This research will build on our preliminary results in two ways. The first line of investigation will focus on determining whether the previously observed videotaped-confession bias can be eliminated or attenuated by certain standard criminal justice practices or by other factors that would likely come into play in real courts of law. The second line of investigation will focus on identifying the process or processes that underlie or mediate the videotaped-confession bias. The proposed research has considerable theoretical and applied significance because only when the limits of the videotaped-confession bias are clearly established and an adequate explanation for its occurrence is identified can appropriate decisions be made as to how to utilize videotaped confessions to the best benefit of the criminal justice system. %%%% Within the criminal justice system, there is a growing trend toward utilizing videotape technology to record and to present confession evidence. However, despite the seeming objectivity associated with the making and subsequent evaluation of a videotaped interrogation and confession, the literature on salience effects in causal attribution suggests that certain aspects of this process could inadvertently bias or prejudice judgments of voluntariness and guilt. Consistent with this literature, our preliminary studies show that, relative to other confession-presentation formats (e. g., audiotapes and transcripts), videotapes that are recorded with the focus on the confessor tend to produce judgments of greater voluntariness and guilt. These findings have important legal implications. This research will build on our preliminary results in two ways. The first line of investigation will focus on determining whether the previously observed videotaped-confession bias can be eliminated or attenuated by certain standard criminal justice practices or by other factors that would likely come into play in real courts of law. The second line of investigation will focus on identifying the process or processes that underlie or mediate the videotaped-confession bias. The proposed research has considerable theoretical and applied significance because only when the limits of the videotaped-confession bias are clearly established and an adequate explanation for its occurrence is identified can appropriate decisions be made as to how to utilize videotaped confessions to the best benefit of the criminal justice system.

NSF Org:

SES - Division of Social and Economic Sciences

Award Number:

9514966

Award Instrument:

Standard Grant

Program Manager:

Patricia White
SES Division of Social and Economic Sciences
SBE Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences

NSF Program(s):

LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Field Application(s):

Human Subjects, Law, Other nsf.applications NEC

Program Reference Code(s):

SBER HUMAN CAPITAL INITIATIVE, 1092
UNASSIGNED, 0000

Program Element Code(s):

1372