Personally intrusive cross -examination: How expert response style and gender affect mock juror decisions

Research has demonstrated that numerous variables affect the persuasiveness of expert witness testimony such as the sex of the expert, the domain of the case, attractiveness of the expert, and level of expertise (Cooper et al. 1996; Krauss & Sales, 2001; Memon & Shuman, 1998; Schuller, Terry, & Mckimmie, 2001). To date, there has been few investigations examining the influence of expert sex, expert witness response style, and attorney questioning style on witness credibility ratings, verdict choice and sentencing recommendations. Mock juror sexism was predicted to moderate the effects of expert sex and expert witness response style on expert credibility ratings.;Results revealed that the male expert witnesses were rated as more likeable and credible than the female expert witnesses. In addition, when expert witnesses answered cross-examination questions in an assertive versus defensive manner they were rated as more professional, likeable, and credible. The use of intrusive questioning by the prosecuting attorney did not affect credibility ratings of the experts, but did result in negative character judgments about the attorney. Expert sex and expert witness response style did not affect verdict and sentencing recommendations and mock juror sexism did not moderate the relationship between these variables and expert credibility ratings. However, credibility ratings of the experts were significantly related to sentencing recommendations. When mock jurors rated the experts as high in credibility, they were more likely to choose more lenient sentences than when they rated the experts as low in credibility.;Female expert witnesses should utilize assertive response styles during their testimony, especially when the opposing expert witness is male. This may help to negate the disparity in credibility ratings between male and female experts, and make it less likely that the juror's sentencing recommendations will be affected by the male expert's views.