Doctoral Dissertation Research: Effects of Pre-and Post Venire Publicity on Juror Decision Making

题目：博士论文研究：审前宣传和审后宣传对陪审员决策的影响项目摘要：本研究采用新颖的研究方法，探讨审前宣传（PTP）和审后宣传（PVP）对陪审员决策的影响。长期以来，人们一直担心审前宣传可能会损害当事人公平审判的权利，迄今为止的研究完全集中在PTP的影响上。另一个可能使陪审员产生偏见的因素是事后宣传（PVP）。PVP是指与审判有关的宣传，坐在座位上的陪审员可能有意或无意地暴露在其中。PVP一直是法院关注的问题，也是许多上诉裁决的基础。拟议的研究将在框架的理论框架内检验PTP/PVP的影响。研究和？predecisional失真。有人建议根据陪审员所接触的媒体框架？无论是亲检框架还是亲辩框架，他们的认知和推论都会向有利的一方倾斜。这具有重大的法律影响，因为许多新闻媒体来源在很大程度上偏向于一个方向或另一个方向，曝光可能影响决策。该研究还将检查信息传播的媒介（印刷与视频），以及PTP的数量。这项研究将采用影子陪审员的方法，参与者作为模拟陪审员将接触到来自实际审判的审判证据。它将在网上进行，参与者将在即将进行试验的地点，以及在一个偏远的、可能改变地点的地点。研究将分6期进行。第一阶段将是PTP，第二阶段将是可怕的问题和开场陈述，第三阶段将是控方证词，第四阶段将是控方和辩方证词，第五阶段将是辩方证词，第六阶段将是结案陈词，法官呢？年代指令。参与者将收到简明的庭审证词，并被要求在庭审过程中的多个点上发表意见，以及最终的判决。这项研究对法律制度有许多启示。随着对外部宣传如何运作的更好理解，过去被认为无效的传统保障措施，如延期、延长口头审查、陪审团审议和司法指示，可能会得到加强。本研究的外部效度提高，可能会导致法庭对心理法律研究的更大接受度。如果陪审员确实受到他们在决策过程中所接触到的信息的影响，那么可以提出一个政策案例，要求在法庭上进行程序上的改变，包括但不限于延长关于公开曝光的口头审查，在适当情况下批准改变地点的请求，以及需要加强对高调案件中陪审团的隔离。该研究将聘请一些本科生和研究生水平的研究助理，并为他们提供研究机会。这项研究的主要地点是纽约市立大学约翰·杰伊学院，该校的学生群体极其多样化。这项研究的结果将在诸如美国心理法律学会年会上发表。此外，他们将提交发表在该领域的主要期刊。

PI and Co-PI: Steven D. Penrod and Tarika DaftaryTitle: Doctoral Dissertation Research: Effects of Pre-and Post Venire Publicity on Juror Decision Making0819392 Project AbstractThe proposed research is designed to investigate the influence of pre-trial publicity (PTP) as well as post-venire publicity (PVP) on juror decision making using a novel research methodology. Concern has long been expressed about the possibility that pretrial publicity could compromise the rights of parties to a fair trial and research to date has focused entirely on the effects of PTP. Another factor that could potentially bias jurors is post-venire publicity (PVP). PVP refers to publicity related to a trial that seated jurors may be exposed to, wittingly or unwittingly. PVP has been a concern in the courts and the basis for a number of appellate rulings. The proposed study will examine the influence of PTP/PVP within the theoretical frameworks of ?framing? research and ?predecisional distortion.? It is proposed that depending on the media frame jurors are exposed to ? a pro-prosecution frame, or a pro-defense frame, their perceptions and inferences will be distorted in direction of the favored party. This has significant legal implications as many news media sources are substantially biased in one direction or the other and exposure could influence decision making. The study will also examine the medium (print versus video) via which the information is disseminated, as well as the amount of PTP. The study will employ a shadow juror methodology where participants acting as mock jurors will be exposed to trial evidence as it emerges from an actual trial. It will be conducted online with participants in the venue in which the trial is to take place as well as participants in a remote, potential change-of-venue location. The study will be conducted in 6 sessions. Session 1 will be the exposure to the PTP, session 2 will be vior dire questions and opening statements, session 3 will be prosecution testimony, session 4 will be prosecution and defense testimony, session 5 will be defense testimony, and session 6 will be closing arguments, and judge?s instructions. Participants will be sent condensed trial testimony and asked to render opinions at multiple points along the way as well as ultimate judgments. This study has a number of implications for the legal system. With a better understanding of how external publicity operates, traditional safeguards such as continuances, extended voir dire, jury deliberations, and judicial instructions, which have been found ineffective in the past, may be bolstered. The enhanced external validity of this study could lead to greater acceptance of psycho-legal research in the courtroom. If jurors are indeed influenced by the information they are exposed to during their decision-making process, then a policy case could be made for procedural changes in the court room, including, but not limited to, extended voir dire regarding publicity exposure, granting of change of venue requests in appropriate situations, and the need for enhanced sequestering of juries in high profile cases. The study will engage a number of undergraduate and gradate level research assistants and provide them with a research opportunity. The primary site for the research is John Jay College-CUNY which has an extremely diverse and ethnic student body. The results of this study will be presented at National Conferences such as the annual meeting of the American Psychology-Law Society. Additionally, they will be submitted for publication at leading journals in the field.