Forensic psychology is a newer field due to the increasing need to provide justice for those with mental health issues. Forensic psychologists are retained by a side of a legal case to offer an objective opinion on a defendant’s mental state. Research, however, has suggested that experts may be biased towards the side that hires them. Current studies have only focused on how evaluators score defendants differently on evaluation tests, but there is no research on bias based on expert opinions themselves. Our project is investigating if there is adversarial allegiance, which is bias based on the side that forensic psychologists are retained by when providing evaluations. My specific role is analyzing further if demographics of the forensic experts influence bias.
Our methods are emailed surveys consisting of a hypothetical legal case. The participants are randomly assigned to one of three sides: prosecution, defense, or court-appointed as a control group. The participants receive the same scenario, therefore if there are discrepancies in answers there is bias. Discovering bias is the first step to change how the forensic field conducts evaluations in order for defendants to receive fair evaluations and for courts to make properly-informed decisions.
Our methods are emailed surveys consisting of a hypothetical legal case. The participants are randomly assigned to one of three sides: prosecution, defense, or court-appointed as a control group. The participants receive the same scenario, therefore if there are discrepancies in answers there is bias. Discovering bias is the first step to change how the forensic field conducts evaluations in order for defendants to receive fair evaluations and for courts to make properly-informed decisions.