Evaluating the Efficacy of Stress as a Screening Tool in Voir Dires: Assessing its Effects on Cognition and the Ability to Render Competent Verdicts

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Lynch, K. (2020). Evaluating the Efficacy of Stress as a Screening Tool in Voir Dires: Assessing its Effects on Cognition and the Ability to Render Competent Verdicts. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Author

Lynch, Kalyne

Title

Evaluating the Efficacy of Stress as a Screening Tool in Voir Dires: Assessing its Effects on Cognition and the Ability to Render Competent Verdicts

Physical Description

1 online resource (59 pages) : PDF

Date

2020

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Prior research has primarily focused on the usefulness of bias scales in voir dires (Kassin & Wrightsman, 1983; Jones et al., 2015), yet studies have additionally shown that jurors experience psychosocial stress (NCSC, 1998; Bornstein et al., 2005). The potential of using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen et al., 1983) as a screening tool was evaluated because stress influences a number of cognitive processes related to decision making (Soares et al., 2012; Morgado et al., 2015). Participants (n = 55) were asked to watch trial videos and read evidence summaries. Perceived stress was assessed at the beginning of the study. Jurors were asked to report a verdict and answer questions related to their comprehension. Highly-stressed jurors demonstrated significantly lower comprehension of the trial evidence than did lower stressed jurors, t(53) = 2.49, p = .02. Other significant relationships were found in relation to verdicts rendered, verdict consistency, and comprehension. Stress may impact different cognitive processes needed to render a competent verdict, though future studies will need a larger sample size to generalize these results.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Psychology

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Cognition
Comprehension
Decision Making
Jury Selection
Verdict Competency
Voir Dire

Subject Area

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Van Wallendael, Lori

Committee Members

Canevello, Amy
Demakis, George
Walker, Lisa

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2020.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Lynch_uncc_0694N_12522

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2560