Inferential Reasoning and the Processing of Evidence by Advocates and Fact-Finders

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How masses of complex evidence in the legal system are generated and used effectively in the formulation and structuring of argument and in the process of drawing conclusions is not well understood. This is partly because these processes involve discovery, proof, deliberation, and choice which can entail creative or imaginative reasoning. Yet illuminating these processes is fundamental to general knowledge of human inferential reasoning and to a specific understanding of the behavior of advocates and fact-finders in law. Dr. Schum's research on the inferential use of evidence involves building upon and integrating research in multiple fields--legal theory, statistics, psychology, and decision analysis. The aim of Dr. Schum's research is to enhance our understanding of evidence-marshalling and argument-structuring theory and to apply this theory to specific inferential and evidential issues. While attending to fact-finding, of particular interest in this research is the important task of structuring arguments from a mass of evidence in preparation for presentation and defense at trial. His specific theoretical objectives involve study of ways of integrating various forms of argument structuring activity and study of the ways in which such activity can facilitate the process of discovery, the recognition of evidential subtleties, and the assessment of the probative weight or value of evidence. His methods of study incorporate the development and use of a computer-based system to aid in the analyses of large collections of evidence. Also, the computer-assisted methodology should permit sorting out of the structural and temporal elements involved in integrating, weighing, sequencing, and presenting evidence. The results of the research should be relevant to efforts to design computer-based systems for assisting the research, practice, and teaching of discovery-related and other inferential tasks.