Testing the Effects of Selected Jury Trial Innovations on Juries' Comprehension of DNA Evidence in New Castle County, Delaware, 2003

This study tested whether the use of selected jury trial reforms enhanced jurors' understanding of complex and challenging scientific evidence presented during a criminal trial. The study examined the use of several jury reform techniques using a controlled mock jury approach in which mock juries composed of jury pool members watched a videotaped armed robbery trial featuring conflicting expert testimony about mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) evidence. A total of 480 mock jurors were randomly assigned to eight-person juries and to one of the six conditions in the experiment. Ten mock juries were run in each of the six conditions (No Innovations, Note Taking, Question Asking and Note Taking, DNA Checklist and Note Taking, Jury Notebook and Note Taking, and All Innovations). At various points throughout the study (before the trial, after watching the videotaped trial, and after reaching a verdict), mock jurors were asked to complete questionnaires to gauge their understanding of mtDNA and the mtDNA evidence presented during the trial. They were also asked if and how the use of the jury trial innovations helped in their understanding of the mtDNA evidence. Specific variables contained in the study include demographic variables of the mock jurors, including their math and science background, mock jurors' views of science, their understanding of mtDNA, their perceptions of the reliability of different types of evidence, and the credibility of the prosecutor, defense attorney, detective, eyewitness, defendant, and expert witnesses, and whether the mock jurors favor or oppose the various innovations.

本研究旨在探究选定的陪审团审判改革措施是否能够提升陪审员对刑事审判中呈现的复杂疑难科学证据的理解水平。本研究采用对照模拟陪审团范式，对多项陪审团改革技术的应用效果进行考察。实验中，由陪审团候选人员组成的模拟陪审团观看了一场模拟持械抢劫审判的录像，该审判包含针对线粒体DNA（mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA）证据的相互矛盾的专家证词。总计480名模拟陪审员被随机分配至8人陪审团，并归入实验的6种实验条件之一。6种实验条件分别为：无创新组、记笔记组、提问与记笔记组、DNA清单与记笔记组、陪审团手册与记笔记组，以及全创新组，每种条件下均开展10组模拟陪审团实验。在研究的不同阶段（庭审前、观看庭审录像后、作出裁决后），研究人员要求模拟陪审员填写问卷，以评估其对线粒体DNA以及庭审中呈现的线粒体DNA证据的理解程度。同时还会询问模拟陪审员，陪审团审判创新措施是否以及如何助力其理解线粒体DNA证据。本研究涵盖的具体变量包括：模拟陪审员的人口统计学特征（如数理与科学背景）、模拟陪审员对科学的态度、其对线粒体DNA的认知水平、对不同类型证据可靠性的判断，以及检察官、辩护律师、侦查人员、目击证人、被告人与专家证人的可信度评价，同时还包含模拟陪审员对各项创新措施的支持倾向。