Law and Psychology Commons^™

Predictors Of Jurors' Decisions And Post-Trial Perceptions Of Child Witness Credibility In A Child Sexual Assault Trial, Janet Murvin Gibson

Masters Theses

The effect of judge’s instructions and jurors’ preconceptions about children’s credibility on juror decision making and post-trial perceptions of children’s credibility was investigated. Also, the relationship between jurors’ post-trial perceptions of children’s credibility and measure of guilt was explored. Jurors’ level of authoritarianism was utilized as a covariate and jurors’ comprehension of the judge’s instructions was considered as a possible mediating influence on their decision making. One hundred and twenty five undergraduate women enrolled in psychology classes at Eastern Illinois University viewed a videotaped simulation of a child sexual assault trial. Participants heard either standard instructions in which the judge …