Category Archives: Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology Course Podcasts

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology,

Many people have requested that I record audio versions of the studies for OCR A2 Psychology. So now everything you need is in this online psychology course.

The Forensic Psychology studies have all been recorded and added to the pages. Although it is possible to download these, it is a tedious process. So I have made all the files for the Forensic Psychology unit available in a downloadable zip file.

Now, you will be able to listen to these audio podcasts on the go and have no excuse for no revising!


Download all the audio recordings of the studies here!

Nemeth and Wachtler (1974) – Minority Influence

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Reaching a Verdict, Reaching a Verdict, , , , ,

Nemeth, C. and Wachtler, J. (1974) ‘Creating the perceptions of consistency and confidence: a necessary condition for minority influence.’ Sociometry, 37, 529-540

Background

This is the third study we will be looking at from the ‘reaching a verdict’ section of ‘reaching a verdict’, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘Minority Influence‘

To further your learning, it is highly recommended that you read: Under the Influence: The Destructive Effects of Group Dynamics which will give you a broader understanding of group dynamics.

Recall the last study we looked at? Asch (1955) considered the impact of the majority on the minority in a group. Nemeth and Wachtler consider the opposite: the influence of the minority on the majority.

Continue reading Nemeth and Wachtler (1974) – Minority Influence →

Asch (1955) – Opinions and Social Pressure – Conformity Experiment

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Asch, S. E. (1955) ‘Opinions and Social Pressure’, Scientific American 193 (5), 31-5.

Background

This is the second study we will be looking at from the ‘reaching a verdict’ section of ‘reaching a verdict’, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘Majority Influence‘

In this classic social psychology experiment Solomon Asch looked at conformity: particularly the influence of the majority on the minority.

This is one of the most influential and well-known studies in Psychology. It looks at conformity, which of course means that this study was conducted from a Social Psychological perspective. However, as this is from the Forensic Section of your OCR A2 Psychology exam, then we need to consider it from a forensic perspective. In this case how to do juries come to either a unanimous or majority decision.

Continue reading Asch (1955) – Opinions and Social Pressure – Conformity Experiment →

Hastie, R., Penrod, S.D. and Pennington, N. (1983) – Stages in Decision Making

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Reaching a Verdict, Reaching a Verdict, , ,

Hastie, R., Penrod, S.D. and Pennington, N. (1983) Inside the Jury. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press

Background

This is the first study we will be looking at from the ‘reaching a verdict’ section of ‘reaching a verdict’, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘Stages in decision making.’

To make this study easier to remember, you can simple refer to it as ‘Hastie et al., 1983′

In this study we will consider how the jury reaches their verdict, specifically how the stages in the decision making process.

It is important to note that this is not a study, but it is a theory.

Continue reading Hastie, R., Penrod, S.D. and Pennington, N. (1983) – Stages in Decision Making →

Ross et al, (1994) ‘The impact of protective shields and videotape testimony on conviction rates

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Reaching a Verdict, Witness Appeal, , , ,

Ross et al, (1994) ‘The impact of protective shields and videotape testimony on conviction rates

Background

This is the third study we will be looking at from the ‘witness appeal’ section of ‘reaching a verdict’, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘Videotapes and Shields’

In cases where children are witnesses to a crime they may have to be interviewed and give testimony in court. The following study examines the rates of conviction when a child witness gives either testimony from behind a shield or by video link.

Continue reading Ross et al, (1994) ‘The impact of protective shields and videotape testimony on conviction rates →