Perception problems of the verbal scale

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Psychology
• Legal Studies

Background:

• Forensic scientists often use verbal scales to convey opinion strength.
• Previous research explored perception of quantitative descriptors but not in a forensic context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how potential jurors perceive and differentiate verbal scale expressions used by forensic experts in court.
• To identify misunderstandings in the interpretation of these verbal descriptors.

Main Methods:

• Four hundred volunteers were surveyed.
• Participants rated the perceived strength of verbal scale terms from expert witness statement excerpts.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings indicate significant misunderstandings of the verbal scale by laypeople.
• The verbal scale does not effectively communicate its intended meaning in a forensic setting.
• Jurors frequently misinterpret the terms used by experts.

Conclusions:

• The current verbal scale used in forensic science is ineffective for its intended purpose.
• There is a critical need to improve how forensic experts communicate the weight of their opinions to avoid juror misunderstanding.