NCJ Number
123105
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1990) Pages: 43-55
Date Published
1990
Length
13 pages
Annotation
In the context of a mock jury study, we tested the hypothesis that people's interpretations of ambiguous evidence depend on how (i.e. by whom) that evidence is introduced.
Abstract
Subjects watched a 45-minute interrogation of a murder suspect who emphatically asserted her innocence, but told an imperfect story. Before the tape, subjects read either the prosecution or defense lawyer's arguments from the opposing side. Results indicated that subjects high in the need for cognition (NC) were influenced by arguments that followed the evidence. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. 3 figures, 43 references. (Author abstract)