Examining the Construct Validity of the Original and Revised JBS: A Cross-Validation of Sample and Method

Factor analysis is a statistical technique that can provide an understanding of construct validity. Previous research examining the factor structure of the Juror Bias Scale (JBS) has uncovered problems in the scale's assessment of the constructs of probability of commission (PC) and reasonable...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Law and human behavior 2002-08, Vol.26 (4), p.455-463
Main Authors: Lecci, Len, Myers, Bryan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjudication
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bias
Censuses
College students
Conspiracy
Construct Validity
Criminal justice
Cynicism
Decision Making
Discriminant analysis
Evidence
Experimentation
Factor Analysis
Female
Guilty verdicts
Human
Humans
Judgment
Juries
Jurisprudence
Jurors
Legal arguments
Legal Processes
Male
Middle Aged
Observer Variation
Prejudice
Psychology
Rape
Sample size
Social Justice
Social psychology
Southeastern United States
Statistical Validity
Studies
Trials
Validation studies
Validity
Verdicts
White people
Witnesses
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:Factor analysis is a statistical technique that can provide an understanding of construct validity. Previous research examining the factor structure of the Juror Bias Scale (JBS) has uncovered problems in the scale's assessment of the constructs of probability of commission (PC) and reasonable doubt (RD). We here reevaluate the scale's constructs to better our understanding of the pretrial biases involved in the juror decision-making process. Importantly, previous findings have been limited to college student samples and trial material that has involved rape evidence. This study examines the construct validity of the JBS in a sample of 617 jury-eligible adults drawn from the community, and the predictive validity of the JBS is examined across 3 distinct trial scenarios. The results parallel earlier findings, indicating that although RD is a tenable and useful construct affecting juror decision-making, PC may be a less relevant pretrial bias. We therefore suggest that future research emphasize alternative constructs, such as confidence and cynicism in the criminal justice system.
ISSN:0147-7307
1573-661X
DOI:10.1023/A:1016335422706