Date of Award
Summer 2023
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Psychology
Committee Chair
Dr. Craig Warlick
Committee Chair School
Psychology
Committee Member 2
Dr. Melanie Leuty
Committee Member 2 School
Psychology
Committee Member 3
Dr. Don Sacco
Committee Member 3 School
Psychology
Committee Member 4
Dr. William Johnson
Committee Member 4 School
Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Security
Committee Member 5
Dr. Ashley Batastini
Committee Member 5 School
Psychology
Abstract
Legal cases involving expert testimony, especially by forensic mental health professionals, is increasingly relying on remote testimony to reduce associated costs and increase availability of such services. There is some evidence to show that expert testimony delivered via videoconference (VC) is comparable to expert testimony delivered in person; however, the most compelling evidence for this claim is unpublished. Other evidence across disciplines showed relative comparability between VC and in-person modalities across various types of outcomes. Based on both unpublished and published findings, this study tested the hypothesis that minimal differences in measures of expert credibility, efficacy, and weight assigned to testimony evidence would be found when testimony was delivered in person and via VC, with significant differences when testimony was delivered by telephone. To test this hypothesis, jury-eligible M-Turk workers provided their perceptions about a forensic psychological expert witness after viewing a videotaped mock court scenario. The videotaped scenario showed the witness testifying either physically in the courtroom, by telephone (audio-only), or using a two-way video conference system. MANOVA and ordinal regression tests demonstrated negligible differences in perceptions of the expert as well as decisions made based on their testimony. These findings provide clearer support for the implementation of remote testimony in courts. Recommendations for psychological expert witnesses are made based on these findings to better serve justice-involved persons and incorporate research-supported techniques into practice.
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5608-603X
Copyright
Ashley C. T. Jones
Recommended Citation
Jones, Ashley, "Does Convenience Come with a Price? The Impact of Remote Testimony on Expert Credibility and Decision-Making" (2023). Dissertations. 1896.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1896