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Science 1 July 1988:
Vol. 241. no. 4861, pp. 31 - 35
DOI: 10.1126/science.3291114
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Articles

Science, Vol 241, Issue 4861, 31-35
Copyright © 1988 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

The expert witness in psychology and psychiatry

D Faust and J Ziskin

Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02903.

The involvement of psychologists and psychiatrists within the legal arena continues to grow rapidly but remains highly controversial. Extensive research on clinical judgement provides a scientific basis for clarifying the growing disputes about the values of such professional activities. Studies show that professionals often fail to reach reliable or valid conclusions and that the accuracy of their judgements does not necessarily surpass that of laypersons, thus raising substantial doubt that psychologists or psychiatrists meet legal standards for expertise. Factors that underlie the research findings and implications for courtroom testimony are discussed.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Meta-Analysis of Clinical Judgment Project: Effects of Experience on Judgment Accuracy.
P. M. Spengler, M. J. White, S. Aegisdottir, A. S. Maugherman, L. A. Anderson, R. S. Cook, C. N. Nichols, G. K. Lampropoulos, B. S. Walker, G. R. Cohen, et al. (2009)
The Counseling Psychologist 37, 350-399
   Abstract »    PDF »
The Criminal Profiling Illusion: What's Behind the Smoke and Mirrors?.
B. Snook, R. M. Cullen, C. Bennell, P. J. Taylor, and P. Gendreau (2008)
Criminal Justice and Behavior 35, 1257-1276
   Abstract »    PDF »
Effects of Client Race on Clinical Judgment of African American Undergraduate Students in Rehabilitation.
M. Rahimi, D. A. Rosenthal, and Fong Chan (2003)
Rehabil Couns Bull 46, 157-163
   Abstract »    PDF »
Actuarial Assessment of Risk for Violence: Predictive Validity of the VRAG and the Historical Part of the HCR-20.
M. GRANN, H. BELFRAGE, and A. TENGSTROM (2000)
Criminal Justice and Behavior 27, 97-114
   Abstract »    PDF »
Information Integration in Child Welfare Cases: An Introduction to Statistical Decision Making.
J. Ruscio (1998)
Child Maltreat 3, 143-156
   Abstract »
Book Review: Draw A Person. Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance.
F. A. Haddad (1995)
Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment 13, 434-439
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The Accuracy of Predictions of Violence to Others.
C. W. Lidz, E. P. Mulvey, and W. Gardner (1993)
JAMA 269, 1007-1011
   Abstract »    PDF »
Buddy, Can You Paradigm?.
G. W. Brown (1991)
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 145, 725
   Abstract »    PDF »
Prediction and Theory Evaluation: The Case of Light Bending.
S. G. BRUSH (1989)
Science 246, 1124-1129
   Abstract »    PDF »


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