Publication Date

1998

Abstract

Jury trials are an integral part of the United States system of justice. However, as of late, the institution of the jury has been attacked on the front that much of the testimony presented to jurors is too complex for them to comprehend. For the proposed study, using the principles of educational psychology theorized by David Ausubel, a mock video of a trial hinging on a "complex scientific concept" will be created and then viewed by mock jurors. We are expecting that, by using Ausubel's principles, that jurors will, in effect, become "students" in a virtual classroom. Conversely, attorneys and expert witnesses will become "teachers". These two factors combined will facilitate the process of learning and help jurors by creating more favorable attitudes towards the trial, increasing memory and comprehension of complex material, and the use of scientific testimony in arriving at their verdict.

Disciplines

Psychology

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