Examine Information for Validity

Page 1: Exam Details

• Document Type: English Answer Sheet

• Details: Contains headings, numerical identifiers, and brief instructions or designations.

Page 2: Understanding Validity

• Key Questions to Assess Validity:

  • What is the purpose of the resource?

  • Is it a one-sided view?

  • Is it neutral on controversial issues?

  • What is the source of the information?

  • Is negative language used?

  • What is the overall purpose of the document?

Page 3: Core Concepts of Validity

• Bias: Presence of personal or systemic prejudice affecting objectivity.

• Opinion: Subjective interpretations lacking verifiable evidence influencing credibility.

• Currency: Timeliness of information affecting relevance in criminal cases.

• Accuracy: Precision and factual correctness crucial for reliable investigative information.

• Circumstance: Situational factors impacting reliability and relevance of information.

Page 4: Evidence in Criminal Cases

• General Statement: Evidence is usually reliable, but there are exceptions.

• Example Case: Research should focus on the case of Barry George (1999) to illustrate the complexities of evidence validity.

Page 5: Barry George Case Overview

• Trial Verdict: Barry George found guilty of murdering Jill Dando, shot outside her home in London (1999).

• Key Points:

  • No forensic evidence was present.

  • Initial police investigations struggled to identify a suspect.

  • George served eight years in prison.

  • Concerns about the validity of the conviction arose post-verdict.

Page 6: Trial Transcript Importance

• Definition: Written or audio recordings of court proceedings.

• Recording Variance: Crown court cases are recorded, while magistrate courts are not.

• Audio Records: Utilize DARTS (Digital Audio Recording Transcript and Storage System).

Page 7: Media Reports

• Role of Media: Influence on public perception of crime.

• Challenges:

  • Reporting may compromise impartiality.

  • Subjective political commentary can impact accuracy, calling the validity of information into question.

Page 8: Judgement from Official Inquiry

• Example: Hillsborough Disaster Inquiry.

• Findings: Initial blame placed on fans; later inquiries attribute failures to police, stadium design, and emergency response delays.

• Outcome: Reevaluation of initial findings indicating inaccuracies.

Page 9: Law Reports

• Overview: System of recording and publishing case judgments from superior courts.

• Publications: Include All England Law Reports and Weekly Law Reports.

• Online Database: Lexis is available for accessing law reports.