Steven D Penrod

The only professional resource to focus exclusively on research methods in forensic psychology With specific advice on topics of particular importance to forensic specialists, Research Methods in Forensic Psychology presents state-of-the-discipline summaries of the issues that relate to psychology and law research. Edited by renowned experts in the field, this resource features contributions by leading scholars in forensic psychology and law, with discussion of relevant topics such as: Meta-analysisJury decision makingInternet-based data collectionLegal research techniques for the social scientistOffender treatmentCompetence to stand trialCriminal profilingFalse confessions and interrogationsTrial-related psycho-legal issuesAccuracy of eyewitnesses and childrenViolence risk assessment This comprehensive guide is designed for a wide range of scholars and legal professionals, presenting a succinct overview of the field of psychology and law as viewed by some of the world's foremost experts.

The criminal justice system has devised several procedural safeguards to protect defendants from erroneous conviction resulting from mistaken eyewitness identification. Mistaken Identification: The Eyewitness, Psychology and the Law reviews the empirical research bearing on the adequacy of those safeguards. This body of literature converges on the conclusion that traditional safeguards such as presence of counsel at line-ups, cross-examination, and judges’ instructions, are ineffective safeguards against mistaken eyewitness identification. Expert psychological testimony on eyewitness memory, designed to educate the jury about how memory processes work and how eyewitness testimony should be evaluated, shows much greater promise as a safeguard against mistaken identifications and erroneous convictions. Mistaken Identification is an invaluable text for advanced psychology students, law students and researchers of memory.