Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Reader 1

Jennifer Groscup

Reader 2

Jennifer Ma

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© 2024 Toni T Besselaar

Abstract

Can the media you consume shape your expectations in the courtroom? This thesis explores how legal media consumption influences jurors' perceptions of forensic evidence, focusing on blood spatter analysis and its potential impact on verdicts. Drawing on the CSI Effect, the proposed study will examine whether fictional crime dramas and true crime documentaries differ in their effects on jurors’ expectations and skepticism about forensic evidence. Approximately 150 jury-eligible participants will be recruited for an experimental study exploring the effects of media exposure and prior legal media consumption. Participants will view a legal scenario involving inconclusive blood spatter evidence after exposure to clips from either a crime drama or a true crime documentary. It is hypothesized that crime drama viewers will exhibit heightened skepticism and greater reliance on advanced forensic techniques as compared to documentary viewers. This research explores the potential role of media in shaping juror biases and proposes strategies for mitigating these effects to ensure fair trial outcomes.

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