Measuring the Impact of Cognitive Bias in Fire Investigation<\/p>\n
Paul Bieber, CFEI, B.S., M.L.S.
\nDirector of the Arson Research Project, USA<\/p>\n
Presented at the International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, 2012<\/p>\n
ABSTRACT<\/p>\n
Cognitive bias has been found to shape decision making in a wide variety of fields. Criminal investigation\u00a0and the forensic sciences are no exception. \u00a0Fire investigation, part criminal investigation, part forensic\u00a0examination, is uniquely positioned to be influenced by the affects of cognitive bias.<\/p>\n
The 2009 report from the National Academy of Science, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States; A\u00a0Path Forward (NAS Report) , recognizes conceptual bias as a factor in all forensic disciplines. \u00a0The National Fire\u00a0Protection Association Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigation (NFPA 921)\u00a0 acknowledges these biases as a\u00a0concern in fire investigation.3<\/p>\n
This report will explore the most common forms of cognitive bias found in the field of fire investigation, review past\u00a0research and give recommendations on how these biases might be minimized. It will also present the results of new\u00a0research which sought to measure the influence of expectation and role bias in fire investigation. A companion\u00a0report, \u201cCase Study Review of Contextual Bias in Fire Investigation\u201d is available at www.Thearsonproject.org.<\/p>\n
Download the complete paper<\/a> here<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Measuring the Impact of Cognitive Bias in Fire Investigation Paul Bieber, CFEI, B.S., M.L.S. Director of the Arson Research Project, USA Presented at the International Symposium on Fire Investigation Science and Technology, 2012 ABSTRACT Cognitive bias has been found to shape decision making in a wide variety of fields. Criminal investigation\u00a0and the forensic sciences are … Continue reading Measuring the Impact of Cognitive Bias<\/span>