| The current study was conducted to analyze the effects that a courtroom identification might have on mock-jurors' verdict decisions in a criminal case (i.e., first-degree murder). Furthermore, a defense warning was introduced with an expectation that the defense warning would moderate the effects of the courtroom identification. The design of the study was a 2 (Courtroom Identification: present, absent) x 2 (Defense Warning: present, absent) between-subjects factorial design. Participants (N = 116) read a trial transcript summary with a courtroom identification (either present or absent) and a defense warning (either present or absent). Participants then completed a questionnaire regarding verdict choice, confidence in verdict choice, and likelihood that the defendant is guilty. Then participants were asked to rank-order the three pieces of evidence according to their influence on verdict decision. None of the predictions of this study was supported, indicating that courtroom identifications were not found to have a significant effect on verdict decisions. Courtroom identifications and defense warnings have not yet been found to be significantly related. Implications of this research as well as future directions are discussed. |
