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Ch. 1: Observation Skills

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 41mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Latin word that means of the forum

(a)  

2.

Science used to help in legal matters, it is concerned with uncovering evidence.

(a)  

3.

Which of the following are things that Forensic scientists do?

a)

Find evidence

b)

Document evidence

c)

Interpret evidence

d)

Solve cases based on evidence

4.

The key skill of a Forensic Scientist is (a)   .

5.

Experts in this field study bullets and guns.

a)

Textiles

b)

Pathologist

c)

Blood spatter analysts

d)

Ballistics

6.

This expert performs autopsies on victims.

a)

Fingerprint analyst

b)

Biochemist

c)

Pathologist

d)

Anthropologist

7.

What a person perceives using their senses is known as:

a)

Perception

b)

Analytical skills

c)

Deductive reasoning

d)

Observation

8.

Interpreting information received from our senses is known as:

a)

Perception

b)

Analytical skills

c)

Deductive reasoning

d)

Observation

9.

A person has these if they have the ability to identify the problem, look at all the parts, organize the information, evaluate it and come to a conclusion.

a)

Perception

b)

Analytical skills

c)

Deductive reasoning

d)

Observation

10.

This is referred to as taking separate general facts and coming up with a consequence, using a series of logical steps

a)

Perception

b)

Analytical skills

c)

Deductive reasoning

d)

Observation

11.

These can affect our observations and can make us perceive something incorrectly.

(a)  

12.

A person who has seen something or some involved in a situation and is able to communicate their observations is called a(n):

(a)  

13.

Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld started this in 1992, they used DNA to examine post-conviction cases.

a)

Wrongfully accused project

b)

DNA conviction project

c)

N. Cardoza School of Law

d)

Innocence project

14.

In 87% of wrongful convictions, faulty (a)   identifications were to blame.

15.

To be a good observer, you should observe ___________. This means you start at one part of the crime scene and run your eyes slowly over every space.

a)

Filtered

b)

Systemically

c)

Quickly

d)

Linearly

16.

To be a good observer, you need to not pay attention to only what you think is important, because of this you need to ______________________.

a)

Turn off filters

b)

Observe the crime scene in a spiral pattern

c)

Observe quickly but thoroughly

d)

Observe the crime scene in a linear pattern

17.

To be a good observer, you need ______________, it is important to write down and photograph as much information as possible.

a)

to observe in a spiral pattern

b)

to observe in a linear pattern

c)

documentation

d)

to observe quickly

18.

True or False: A forensic investigator is only concerned with collecting and examining physical evidence.

a)

True

b)

False

19.

Every second we are gathering data using:

a)

sight

b)

smell

c)

touch

d)

sound

e)

All of the senses

20.

Paying attention to details requires our brain:

a)

use both hemispheres equally

b)

only use the right hemisphere

c)

only use the left hemisphere

d)

put forth conscious effort.

21.

Sometimes a noise or detail will become invisible to us as we begin to ignore it. It could be something like a bird chirping, or a poster in the hallway we see daily. We start to ignore the data because we have determined that it is ______________________.

a)

irrelevant to our current needs

b)

already stored in our long term memory

c)

easily retrieved from our short term memory

d)

analyzed and recorded by our hippocampus

22.

When faced with a gap in our recollection or memory, the brain will:

a)

create a blank space and let you know you do not remember

b)

fill in the gap with information that may not be accurate

c)

connect the hemispheres which allows accurate recall

d)

compensate by using the olfactory center which is usually not used during memory recall.

23.

Which way the dancer spins is based on:

a)

whether you are right or left handed

b)

your perception

c)

she always spins the same way

d)

whether their is a shadow on the image

24.

When collecting information, our brain will apply our ______________________ about the surroundings or the event taking place.

a)

reality

b)

prior knowledge

c)

processing

d)

concentration

25.

Witness testimony should not be relied heavily on in a courtroom because it can be __________________.

a)

unfair since it is so accurate

b)

unimportant to the crime

c)

unreliable and inaccurate

d)

a distraction for the jurors

26.

What type of evidence is the cornerstone of the Innocence Project?

a)

ballistics

b)

DNA

c)

eyewitness accounts

d)

chemicals

27.

Scheck & Neufeld are known for starting the _____________________ in 1992.

a)

The Scfeld Investigative Group

b)

The Innocence Project

c)

Supreme Court case against Eyewitness testimony

d)

Neufeld Scheck Institute

28.

Which of the following does NOT affect your observational skills?

a)

whether you are alone or part of a group

b)

the number of people in the area

c)

the type of activity going on around you

d)

the presence of other distractors like animals or weapons

e)

your eye color

29.

Humans are limited in our processing. Which of the following is a true statement:

a)

Humans can accurately process all 5 sense simultaneously

b)

Humans much approach a crime scene using only one sense at a time

c)

Humans must know their limitations and approach a crime scene systematically

d)

Humans should rely mostly on computers which are much better at processing information.

30.

Which of the following are useful to aid forensic scientists with processing a crime scene?

a)

photographs

b)

notes

c)

drawings

d)

videos

e)

all of the choices are correct

31.

One of the key attributes of a forensic scientist:

a)

to be a good communicator of evidence in writing and in court

b)

to process information systematically

c)

to know that perception is faulty

d)

all of the choices are attributes of a forensic scientist

32.

What is the name of a specialist who studies bullets and guns and uses that information to catch criminals?

a)

ballistics expert

b)

toxicologist

c)

profiler

d)

linguistic expert

33.

What is the name of a specialist who studies flies, maggots and ants and uses that information to catch criminals?

a)

entomologist

b)

toxicologist

c)

profiler

d)

linguistic scientist

34.

An image like the one shown would be studied by which of the following?

a)

Forensic linguist

b)

Vehicle expert

c)

Ballistics Expert

d)

Blood Spatter Analyst

35.

A forensic scientist may use tire tread depth, like the image shows to process evidence from a crime scene. Which of the following would most likely process this type of evidence?

a)

Linguist

b)

vehicle expert

c)

blood spatter analyst

d)

entomologist

36.

A good forensic scientist wants to ask good questions and make sure that those questions:

a)

gather information that can convict a specific suspect

b)

can point the cops toward an arrest quickly

c)

do not lead a witness towards a false memory or plant information

d)

will make the lawyers look good in court

37.

Data a person collects with his or her senses...

a)

Fact

b)

Opinion

c)

Observation

d)

Perception

38.

New information mixed with personal knowledge and experience received from the senses contributes to...

a)

observation

b)

perception

c)

fact

d)

opinion

39.
Which of the following can affect GENERAL OBSERVATION?
a)
emotional state
b)
motive
c)
age
d)
prejudices 
40.
A good observer should...
a)
interpret immediately
b)
let another person document
c)
jump to conclusions
d)
turn off filters
41.

A forensic investigator is only interested in...

a)

proving guilt or innocence

b)

solving the crime

c)

testifying in court

d)

collecting/examining evidence

42.
A forensic investigator must be able to do all of the following EXCEPT...
a)
observe
b)
interpret
c)
report
d)
pass judgement
43.
Which of the following is the best definition of forensic science?
a)
The science of studying dead people.
b)
The application of science to the law.
c)
The application of science to medicine.
d)
The study of poisons.
44.
Which crime lab unit is responsible for examining bodily fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons?
a)
Photography
b)
Toolmarks
c)
Toxicology
d)
Evidence Collection
45.
Which entity maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world? 
a)
LAPD
b)
Scotland Yard
c)
FBI
d)
RHPD
46.

It is important to separate witnesses at a crime scene in order to:

a)

prevent contamination of evidence

b)

prevent them from talking and forming a collusion

c)

prevent them from leaving the scene

47.

Any physical location in which a crime has occurred or is suspected of having occurred is called a(n):

a)

Forensics

b)

Accomplice

c)

Crime Scene

d)

Alibi

48.

Any material items that are present at the crime scene are referred to as:

a)

evidence

b)

accomplice

c)

detectives

d)

police officers

49.
When evaluating eyewitness testimony, the investigator must discriminate between fact and: 
a)
Observation 
b)
Perception 
c)
Opinion 
d)
None of these choices 
50.
An interesting aspect of our perception is that we:
a)
Believe what we see and hear, even though our ability to be accurate is flawed
b)
Believe what we see, even though our ability to be accurate is flawed
c)
Believe what we hear, even though our ability to be accurate is flawed 
d)
None of the choices 
51.
Eyewitness accounts of crime-scene events vary considerably from one person to another.  What you observe depends on your level of:
a)
Interest
b)
Stress
c)
Concentration and the amount and kind of distraction that may be present
d)
All of the choices 
52.
What might a forensic scientist be asked to do in a murder trial?
a)
Identify whose blood is on the murder weapon
b)
Testify to the mental state of the accused
c)
Talk about the illegal accounting practices of the victim
d)
Explain what the victim was doing the day before the crime
53.

Mrs. Woodley is missing and police want her DNA. The best place for them to find it is in Mrs. Woodley's:

a)

Tennis shoes

b)

Dishes

c)

Hair brush

d)

Bank account statements

54.
What is done by a medical examiner to determine the cause of death?
a)
Biopsy
b)
Autopsy
c)
Forgery
d)
Sonogram
55.

Forensic scientists:

a)

only exist in CSI movies and TV shows.

b)

investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence.

c)

solve every crime.

d)

live a very glamorous life.

56.

Our state of mind affects how we observe our surroundings. What mental state is the best for observing?

a)

happy

b)

relaxed

c)

nervous

d)

excited

57.

A forensic scientist is called to a court of law to provide:

a)

fact

b)

opinion

c)

judgement

d)

reflection

58.

Investigators must discriminate between ________ and __________

a)

good /bad

b)

black/white

c)

fact/opinion

d)

dead/alive

59.

All of the following are ways to improve our observational skills except:

a)

be sure to look at the entire area, not just the body, weapons, or signs of break in

b)

observe everything no matter how big or small

c)

when collecting evidence, record only those things that you are sure are important

d)

write down and photograph everything you find.

60.

Criminal investigations depend on the observation skills of all involved. Those involved include:

a)

police investigators

b)

forensics scientists

c)

witnesses

d)

All of these choices