The CSI Effect: Popular Fiction About Forensic Science Affects Public Expectations About Real Forensic Science
The CSI Effect: Popular Fiction About Forensic Science Affects Public Expectations About Real Forensic Science
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CSI 效应：有关法医学的流行小说影响公众对真正法医学的期望
DOI：
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发表时间：
2007
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
M. Saks
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
N. J. Schweitzer;M. Saks
有两个假设被粗略地称为CSI效应，这表明电视节目及其衍生产品疯狂地夸大和美化法医科学，影响了公众，反过来又会影响审判，要么（a）通过对法医科学产生比所能实现的更大的期望来增加起诉负担，要么（B）通过对法医科学的能力和可靠性产生夸大的信心来加重辩护的负担。令人惊讶的是，没有任何已发表的实证研究对这些假设进行检验。本研究通过向模拟陪审员出示一份模拟审判记录，其中包括一名法医科学家的证词。定罪的理由相对薄弱，除非专家证词能够使案件跨越合理怀疑的门槛。除了对审判证据的反应外，受访者还被问及他们的电视观看习惯。调查结果：与非CSI观众相比，CSI观众对审判中提出的法医证据更挑剔，认为它不太可信。关于他们的判决，29%的非CSI观众表示他们会定罪，而CSI观众的比例为18%（统计上没有显著差异）。法医科学观众比非观众对他们的判决更有信心。然而，普通犯罪节目的观众在其他任何依赖性措施上与非观众同行没有显着差异，这表明对法医科学证词的怀疑是针对那些饮食中包含大量法医科学电视节目的人。
Two of a number of hypotheses loosely referred to as the CSI Effect suggest that the television program and its spin-offs, which wildy exaggerate and glorify forensic science, affect the public, and in turn affect trials either by (a) burdening the prosecution by creating greater expectations about forensic science than can be delivered or (b) burden the defense by creating exaggerated faith in the capabilities and reliability of the forensic sciences. Surprisingly, no published empirical research puts these hypotheses to a test. The present study did so by presenting to mock jurors a simulated trial transcript which included the testimony of a forensic scientist. The case for conviction was relatively weak, unless the expert testimony could carry the case across the threshold of reasonable doubt. In addition to reacting to the trial evidence, respondents were asked about their television viewing habits. Findings: Compared to non-CSI viewers, CSI viewers were more critical of the forensic evidence presented at the trial, finding it less believable. Regarding their verdicts, 29% of non-CSI viewers said they would convict, compared to 18% of CSI viewers (not a statistically significant difference). Forensic science viewers expressed more confidence in their verdicts than did non-viewers. Viewers of general crime program, however, did not differ significantly from their non-viewing counterparts on any of the other dependent measures, suggesting that skepticism toward the forensic science testimony was specific to those whose diet consisted of heavy doses of forensic science television programs.