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Definition
A structured comparison procedure modelled on the eyewitness line-up, in which the examiner assesses a set of candidates without knowing which is the suspect, reducing target-present bias.
- Modeled on
- Eyewitness lineup procedure
- Field
- Odontology comparison
- Effect
- Reduces target-present bias
Common questions
Why borrow a procedure from eyewitness identification for a scientific comparison?+
Eyewitness lineups were designed specifically to counter the assumption that the true match must be among the candidates. Applying the same logic keeps an odontology examiner from unconsciously forcing a match.
What is target-present bias in this context?+
The tendency of an examiner to assume the suspect's dentition must be the source of the mark being compared, simply because it is included in the comparison set, rather than judging the evidence on its own merits.
Related terms
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