Forensic Science and Observations Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, historical scientists, and legal standards in forensic science and eyewitness testimony.

Testimonial Evidence

Oral or written statements provided as evidence.

Observation

Information collected using the 5 senses.

Inference

An interpretation or personal perception derived from observations.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive information that cannot be expressed as a number.

Quantitative Data

Information that is expressed as a number.

Cross Race Effect

A phenomenon in which people are better at recognizing faces of their own race rather than those of other races.

Forensic

Derived from the word Forum, referring to public debate and legal discussion.

Bertillion

Forensic pioneer who contributed to body measurement and anthropometry.

Galton

Forensic pioneer who contributed to the study of fingerprints.

Goddard

Forensic pioneer who contributed to the field of firearms.

Jeffreys

Forensic pioneer who developed DNA profiling.

Lattes

Forensic pioneer who contributed to the identification of blood groups.

Locard

Forensic pioneer who contributed to fiber and hair examination.

Orfilia

Forensic pioneer who contributed to toxicology.

Osborn

Forensic pioneer who contributed to document examination.

Frye v. United States Case

A $1923$ court case questioning polygraph test admissibility, establishing that scientific evidence must be reliable, reproducible, and accepted by science.

Locard's Exchange Principle

The principle stating that every contact leaves a trace.

Daubert Ruling

A legal ruling requiring a rigorous application of the scientific method to expert witness testimony.

Deductive Reasoning

A process of taking a lot of information and narrowing it down to specific information.

Inductive Reasoning

A process of taking a specific detail and generalizing it to an entire group or element.

Expert Witness

An individual who serves as an interpreter of evidence to the judge or jury, explaining scientific findings and how they apply to guilt or responsibility.

DEA

Drug Enforcement Administration.

FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigation.

ATF

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

USPIS

United States Postal Inspection Service.

Admissible Evidence

Evidence that could be legally used in a court case.

Inadmissible Evidence

Evidence that cannot be used in a court case.