Observation Skills - Chapter 1 - HOSA Forensic Science

Observation Skills - Chapter 1 - HOSA Forensic Science tfss 23-24

What are observational skills based on?

Our 5 senses (sight, taste, hearing, smell, touch)

and memories

Why are witnesses important?

They provide context for crimes and clarify events

How do we analyze witnesses?

One way is by judging their level of engrossment

What are three factors that affect the level of engrossment?

Emotional State, Number of People Present, and Type of Activity

Emotional State

People with strong emotions are less likely to be credible; the high adrenaline in their systems makes their perceptions faulty. They will be less likely to notice small details.

Number of People Present

the larger the amount of people, the less likely we are to pay attention to our surroundings.

Type + Involvement in Activity

If the activity is part of a routine, the less perceptive we are. Also, the more involvement in an activity, the less likely we are to pay attention to our surroundings.

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