Investigating the C.S.I. Effect: Is the viewing of forensic-science television programming related to attitudes that could affect jury behavior?

Susan Huelsing Sarapin, Purdue University

Abstract

This study reports the results of a questionnaire that was completed by 97 undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university. The purpose of the questionnaire was to investigate the phenomenon of the "CSI Effect"—the belief that watching TV programming that depicts criminal trials may influence viewers' expectations about the real world practice of jurisprudence. Specifically, the "CSI Effect" posits that "CSI" jurors, as opposed to those who do not watch this type of TV programming, have a: (1) greater expectation of seeing physical evidence at trial; (2) a greater need for certainty of guilt before voting for conviction; and (3) a greater likelihood of acquitting the defendant when little or no physical evidence is presented, and of convicting the defendant when a great deal of forensic evidence is presented. The results of the study reveal that: both "CSI" viewers and general TV viewers have an unrealistically high expectation of seeing forensic evidence; viewers of general TV, not crime-oriented programming, have a greater need for certainty of guilt at lower levels of evidence before convicting; and "CSI" viewers are more likely to acquit the defendant when little or no scientific evidence is presented. The research question exploring the effect of sex and crime-oriented viewing was also supported. Limitations of the study are discussed and directions for future research are outlined.

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

Sparks, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Forensic anthropology|Law|Social psychology|Mass communications

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