TY - JOUR
T1 - Solving the puzzle
T2 - The effects of contextual information and feedback on the interpretation of a crime scene
AU - van den Eeden, Claire A.J.
AU - Ost, James
AU - de Poot, Christianne J.
AU - van Koppen, Peter J.
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - In this study, we examined how the provision of contextual information and the ability to ask questions and obtain feedback affected mock investigators' interpretation of a crime scene. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions in a 2 × 2 design and assessed two photographs of the same crime scene. Participants were instructed to write a narrative about what they thought had happened at the scene. Results showed that the provision of contextual information and the ability to ask questions had no effect on the lengths of the narratives participants produced. However, participants who received contextual information wrote a more factual narrative containing more descriptions of actions before, during, and after the crime. Across all conditions, most of the questions were asked about persons who could in some way be involved in the crime. Results of this study indicate that the provision of contextual information helped participants to focus on the more factual, rather than speculative elements, of the crime.
AB - In this study, we examined how the provision of contextual information and the ability to ask questions and obtain feedback affected mock investigators' interpretation of a crime scene. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions in a 2 × 2 design and assessed two photographs of the same crime scene. Participants were instructed to write a narrative about what they thought had happened at the scene. Results showed that the provision of contextual information and the ability to ask questions had no effect on the lengths of the narratives participants produced. However, participants who received contextual information wrote a more factual narrative containing more descriptions of actions before, during, and after the crime. Across all conditions, most of the questions were asked about persons who could in some way be involved in the crime. Results of this study indicate that the provision of contextual information helped participants to focus on the more factual, rather than speculative elements, of the crime.
KW - contextual information
KW - crime scene investigation
KW - decision-making
KW - feedback
KW - reasoning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040337257&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jip.1494
DO - 10.1002/jip.1494
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85040337257
SN - 1544-4759
VL - 15
SP - 109
EP - 123
JO - Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling
JF - Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling
IS - 2
ER -
