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.