Date of Award
11-2024
Document Type
Doctoral Research Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Julie S. Costopoulos, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Mary Caitlin Fertitta, Psy.D.
Third Advisor
Marshall A. Jones, D.B.A.
Fourth Advisor
Theodore G. Petersen, Ph.D.
Abstract
Research on the credibility of legal institutions, such as police officers, often overlooks juries, focusing instead on those with limited or extensive criminal justice system contact. Existing studies primarily address expert witnesses and show that witness confidence and testimony clarity influence perceptions of credibility, trustworthiness, and friendliness. This study addresses the gap by examining how police officer confidence and clarity impact jury perceptions of these qualities. It also explores how juror factors—such as attitudes towards authority, arrest history, views on police, and political and generational affiliations—affect these perceptions. Using a sample of 134 community and undergraduate participants, each exposed to one of four mock police testimonies, the study found that high confidence in police officers enhances perceptions of credibility and trustworthiness, while clarity in communication boosts credibility. Additionally, jurors with positive views of police rated them as more credible, friendly, and trustworthy. These findings highlight the importance of police officer presentation and juror attitudes in shaping the effectiveness of police testimony, with implications for improving jury decision-making and training for legal professionals.
Recommended Citation
Buczek, Natalie Maria, "Cops in Court: Juror Perceptions of Police Witnesses" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1490.
https://repository.fit.edu/etd/1490