Ironically, the legal profession in the US and British Commonwealth have Rules of Conduct for lawyers. I am at a loss as to Rules for the Forensic Expert that follow these scientific method protections in research and testimony to the extent presented in this new paper:

An Empirical Research Agenda For the Forensic Sciences by Koehler and Meixner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………. 3

1. HISTORY ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
2. WHERE TO FROM HERE? ……………………………………………………………….. 8

Descriptive Studies: Examiner Methods …………………………………… 10

Study 1: What do examiners generally look for in making comparisons? …………………………………………………………….. 10

Study 2: How much variability is there in examiner methods? ………………………………………………………………….. 12

Study 3: Do the most effective examiners employ unique methods? ………………………………………………………………….. 13

Descriptive Studies: Effects of Differences in Sample and Methodology on Accuracy ……………………………………………….. 14

Study 4: Does the difficulty of the sample affect accuracy? ….. 15

Study 5: Applying signal detection theory: Can examiners’ decision thresholds be shifted? …………………………………….. 16

Study 6: Does examiner confidence correlate with accuracy? ………………………………………………………………….. 17

Study 7: Does the use of a computer database affect match report accuracy? ………………………………………………………… 18

Study 8: How many points of similarity should examiners use?………………………………………………………………………….. 20

Descriptive Studies: Effects of Biasing Information and Methods on Accuracy ……………………………………………………… 21

Study 9: Does biasing information interact with the questions examiners are asked to answer? …………………….. 22

Study 10: Does the presence of multiple samples or the order in which samples are examined bias conclusions? …. 24

Study 11: Are examiners affected by knowledge of a forthcoming review? ………………………………………………….. 25

Study 12: Can examiners be debiased? ………………………………. 26

Descriptive Studies: How Examiners Report their Results and how Judicial Actors Interpret Them…………………………………… 27

Study 13: How do forensic examiners actually testify in court? ……………………………………………………………………….. 28

Study 14: How should examiners present evidence in court? ……………………………………………………………………….. 29

CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………………………….. 31