Forensics: Observations

Every second we are gathering data using:

• sight

• smell

• touch

• sound

• All of the senses

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

In order to determine which details are more important, humans:

• apply a filter to incoming stimuli

• process everything equally

• only pay attention to visual details

• focus more on tactile stimuli

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

Paying attention to details requires our brain:

• use both hemispheres equally

• only use the right hemisphere

• only use the left hemisphere

• put forth conscious effort.

Sometimes a noise or detail will become invisible to us as we begin to ignore it. It could be something like a bird chirping, or a poster in the hallway we see daily. We start to ignore the data because we have determined that it is ______________________.

• irrelevant to our current needs

• already stored in our long term memory

• easily retrieved from our short term memory

• analyzed and recorded by our hippocampus

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

In forensics, perceptions are known to be __________

• accurate

• faulty

• consistent

• good evidence

When faced with a gap in our recollection or memory, the brain will:

• create a blank space and let you know you do not remember

• fill in the gap with information that may not be accurate

• connect the hemispheres which allows accurate recall

• compensate by using the olfactory center which is usually not used during memory recall.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

Which way the dancer spins is based on:

• whether you are right or left handed

• your perception

• she always spins the same way

• whether their is a shadow on the image

When collecting information, our brain will apply our ______________________ about the surroundings or the event taking place.

• reality

• prior knowledge

• processing

• concentration

Even after individuals are shown evidence that their memory may be faulty or incorrect, the can still resist accepting the truth. This is because perception can be more powerful than ___________________

• ballistics

• reality

• memories

• stimuli

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-8

Witness testimony should not be relied heavily on in a courtroom because it can be __________________.

• unfair since it is so accurate

• unimportant to the crime

• unreliable and inaccurate

• a distraction for the jurors