Problems of Forensic Sciences 2017 Vol. 111 (CXI) 45-60
COGNITIVE BIASES IN FINGERPRINT EXPERT OPINIONS
Marta NAWROCKA, Karolina KIEJNICH
Laboratory of Criminalistics, Faculty of Law and Administration, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
Streszczenie
Fingerprint analyses are considered to be amongst the most reliable of all forensic analyses of traces (impressions). However, they are still not entirely error-free. Each procedure which uses unreliable human senses as a research instrument and subjective judgments based on cognitive processes as the basis for conclusions entails the risk of the occurrence of so-called cognitive bias. Cognitive biases are a group of various psychological effects resulting from an irrational perception of reality caused by an external or internal stimulus. The occurrence of a particular type of cognitive bias can affect emotions, judgments and decisions.
The issue of errors in reasoning in relation to various fields of forensic sciences is poorly described. Although, as the cases analysed in the article show, the error rate among forensic fingerprint experts is relatively low, such errors are still detected. This is not uncommon in high profile media cases, where trained experts from respected research centres are involved. This all raises reasonable fears among the scientific community and practitioners with respect to the reliability of expert opinions.
The aim of this article is to review the results of the latest studies concerning cognitive biases in fingerprint analysis and to attempt to determine their sources. The authors hope that the conclusions and postulates put forward in the paper will be an inspiration to search for solutions that minimize the risk of errors and make them fingerprints an even more valuable measure of evidence.
Słowa kluczowe
Forensic sciences; Fingerprint expert opinion; Reliability of methods; Cognitive biases.