Doctoral Dissertation Research: Exploring Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Plea Bargaining Decisions

博士论文研究：探索辩诉交易决定背后的心理机制摘要：大约95%的刑事定罪是通过认罪解决的，在认罪中，被告承认有罪，并放弃宪法赋予他的陪审团审判的权利，以换取减轻惩罚。尽管最高法院裁定辩诉交易本质上不是强制性的，但这个项目将通过识别可能阻碍被告的因素来测试辩诉交易制度是否具有强制性？能够做出客观的答辩决定。该项目将使用一种实验性的方法，检查审讯策略，如那些旨在向嫌疑人提供错误信息的策略，是否影响认罪决定；以及，该项目将审查焦虑和内疚对被告认罪决定的影响。该项目将由两项实验研究组成。第一项研究将利用在线参与者来考察个人如何使用假设情景做出认罪决定，在这些情景中，被告的有罪或无罪以及审讯策略各不相同。第二项研究将雇用本科生，他们将被安排在涉及实际后果的情景中，并在学生的提问技巧受到操纵的情况下，以确定他们选择认罪协议的可能性。这个项目将有助于研究审讯技术对辩诉交易过程的影响，以及刑事被告放弃审判权利以支持认罪交易的情况。这一裁决反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Title: Doctoral Dissertation Research: Exploring Psychological Mechanism Underlying Plea Bargaining Decisions Abstract: Approximately 95% of criminal convictions are resolved through guilty pleas, in which a defendant admits guilt and waives his constitutional right to a jury trial in exchange for a reduced punishment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that plea deals are not inherently coercive, this project will test whether the plea-bargaining system is coercive by identifying factors that might hinder defendants? ability to make objective plea decisions. Using an experimental approach, the project will examine whether interrogation tactics, such as those that are designed to provide suspects with misinformation, influence plea decisions; as well, the project will examine the effect of anxiety and guilt on defendant's plea decisions. This project will consist of two experimental studies. The first study will employ online participants to examine how individuals make plea decisions using hypothetical scenarios in which the guilt or innocence of the defendant, as well as the interrogation tactics, are varied. The second study will employ undergraduate students who will be placed in situations involving real consequences, and where questioning techniques of the students are manipulated, to determine their likelihood of choosing plea deals. This project will contribute to the body of research on the influence of interrogation techniques on the plea-bargaining process and the circumstances under which criminal defendants waive their right to a trial in favor of a plea deal.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.