Juror Interpretations of Ambiguous Evidence: Need for Cognition, Presentation Order, and Persuasion

• NCJ Number: 123105
• Journal: Law and Human Behavior Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1990) Pages: 43-55
• Author(s): S M Kassin; M E Reddy; W F Tulloch
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Data presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Atlanta, August 1988.

Annotation

In the context of a mock jury study, we tested the hypothesis that people's interpretations of ambiguous evidence depend on how (i.e. by whom) that evidence is introduced.

Abstract

Subjects watched a 45-minute interrogation of a murder suspect who emphatically asserted her innocence, but told an imperfect story. Before the tape, subjects read either the prosecution or defense lawyer's arguments from the opposing side. Results indicated that subjects high in the need for cognition (NC) were influenced by arguments that followed the evidence. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. 3 figures, 43 references. (Author abstract)