Forensic Science Vocabulary

Front

Observation

Back

What you notice using your five senses—sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste.

Front

Perception

Back

How your brain interprets what you observe; it can be influenced by emotions, past experiences, or expectations.

Front

Fact

Back

Something that can be proven true and is based on real evidence.

Front

Inference

Back

A conclusion you make based on facts and observations (like an educated guess).

Front

Eyewitness

Back

Someone who sees a crime or accident happen and reports what they remember.

Front

Forensic Science

Back

The use of science to solve crimes and answer legal questions.

Front

Qualitative Observation

Back

Observations based on descriptions, like color or texture (no numbers involved).

Front

Quantitative Observation

Back

Observations that include numbers, like measurements or amounts.

Front

Deductive Reasoning

Back

Using general rules to make specific conclusions (e.g., All fingerprints are unique. This print is unique. So it must belong to someone).

Front

Inductive Reasoning

Back

Making general rules based on specific examples (e.g., These three hairs are blonde, so the suspect might be blonde).