- Our ability to observe is influenced by environmental factors and the natural filters in our brains. Witness observations of crimes can be incomplete or inaccurate. - The Innocence Project found that 87% of wrongful convictions resulted from flawed eyewitness testimony. - Police officers and crime scene investigators are trained in observation skills to carefully record facts without judgment. Forensic scientists examine evidence objectively and provide expert testimony in court.

1. Chapter 1.
Observation Skills
Forensic Science
Ms.Watson

2. Chapter 1. Observation Skills
• Objectives
• Define observation and
describe what changes occur in
the brain
• Describe examples of factors
influencing eyewitness
accounts
• Compare the reliability of
eyewitness testimony to what
actually happened
• Relate observation skills to
their use in forensic science
• Define forensic science
• Practice and improve your own
observation skills
• Vocabulary
• Analytical skills
• Deductive reasoning
• Eyewitness
• Fact
• Forensic
• Logical
• Observation
• Opinion
• perception

3. Introduction
• Forensic investigators
must be able to
observe, interpret, and
report observations
clearly.
• Collects all available
evidence, without
making judgment
• The first step is careful
and accurate
observation.

4. What is Observation?
• We gather information
through our senses (sight,
taste, hearing, smell, and
touch)
• We can not pay attention to
everything at once
(unconscious filter)
• Our perception is limited,
and the way we view our
surroundings may not
accurately reflect what is
really there – our brain fills
in information that is not
really there

5. What is Observation?

6. Observations in Forensics
• Forensics derives from
the Latin word, forensis,
which means “of the
forum”
• Open forum to debate
and discuss
• Forensic science is
strictly concerned with
uncovering evidence
that stands as facts

7. What is Observation?
• Our brains apply prior
knowledge we already have
about our surroundings to
new situations
• Criminal investigations
depend on the observation
skills of all parties involved –
the police investigators, the
forensic scientists, and the
witnesses.

9. Observation by Witnesses
• One key component of any
crime investigation is the
observations made by
witnesses.
• Perceptions of witnesses
can be faulty
• Our emotional state
influences our ability to see
and hear what is happening
around us

10. Observation by Witnesses
Factors affecting our observational skills:
• Unusual situations (Ex. WorldTrade Center)
• Whether you are alone or with a group of people
• The number of people and/or animals in the area
• What type of activity is occurring around you

11. Eyewitness Accounts
• Eyewitness accounts of a
crime-scene events vary
considerably form one
person to another
• Our memory fades with
time, and our brains fill in
details that we feel are
appropriate by may not be
accurate

12. Innocence Project
• Created by Barry C. Scheck and
Peter J. Neufield in 1992
• Use DNA to provide conclusive
proof of guilt or innocence
• Faulty eyewitness accounts
contributed to 87% of those
wrongful convictions
• Must discriminate between fact
and opinion
• The examiner tries to piece
together the events preceding
the crime in a logical order

13. How to be a Good Observer
1. We know that we are not naturally inclined to pay
attention to all the details of our surroundings
2. We know that we are naturally inclined to filter our
unimportant information.
3. We know that we are naturally inclined to interpret
what we see, to look for patterns, and make
connections.
4. We know that our memories are faulty

14. What Forensic Scientists Do
• Find, examine, and evaluate evidence from a crime scene
• Act as an expert witness
• They are trained to obtain good observations skills
• Analytical skills requires patience and and practice
• Use deductive reasoning to verify actual facts of the case

15. Chapter 1. Observation Skills
Summary
• Our ability to observe is affected by our environment and the
natural filters of sensory information in our brains.
• The observations of witnesses to crimes can be partial and
faulty, but in some cases also precise
• The Innocence Project has found that 87 percent of wrongful
conviction cases resulted from flawed eyewitness testimony.
• Police officers and crime-scene investigators are trained in
good observation practices.
• Forensic scientists find, examine, and evaluate evidence from a
crime scene and provide expert testimony to courts.

16. Chapter 1. Observation Skills
Chapter 1 Review
True or False
1. The word forensic refers to the application of scientific knowledge
to legal questions.
2. Good observation skills come naturally to investigators; they do
not need to be trained.
3. If we remember seeing something happen, we can trust that it
happened just as we think it did.
4. Most wrongful convictions seem to be the result of faulty
eyewitness testimony.
5. The Innocence Project is an organization that seeks to get
convicted killers our of prison.
TRUE
FALSE
FALSE
TRUE
FALSE

17. Chapter 1. Observation Skills
Chapter 1 Review
Multiple Choice
6. A forensic scientists is called to a court of law to provide
7. Our state of mind affects how we observe our surroundings.
What mental state is best for observing?
8. The Innocence Project found that most faulty convictions
were based on
9. All of the following are ways to improve our observational
skills except
10. The forensic scientist has many duties. Which of these is
not a job for a forensic scientist?