NSF LogoNSF Award Abstract - #0001951 AWSFL008-DS3

Variations in Individual Juror Reasoning and Its Impact on Jury Decision Making

NSF Org SES
Latest Amendment Date August 10, 2001
Award Number 0001951
Award Instrument Standard Grant
Program Manager
SES DIVN OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES
SBE DIRECT FOR SOCIAL, BEHAV & ECONOMIC SCIE
Start Date September 1, 2000
Expires August 31, 2002 (Estimated)
Expected Total Amount $113308 (Estimated)
Investigator Narina N. Nunez narina@uwyo.edu (Principal Investigator current)
Martin J. Bourgeois (Co-Principal Investigator current)
Sponsor University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue
Laramie, WY 820713355 307/766-5320
NSF Program 1372 LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Field Application 0116000 Human Subjects
Program Reference Code 0000,OTHR,

Abstract

This research examines juror reasoning and jury decision-making via two experiments. Each of the studies undertaken here is designed to examine individuals' reasoning abilities and how those abilities affect group decision-making. The research builds on Kuhn's 1991 finding that there are two levels of general reasoning, one of which involves satisficing - finding a plausible story and sticking with it, despite non-conforming evidence. The other type of reasoning involves systematic evaluation of evidence for the extent to which it fits alternative stories, and selection of the one with the least discordant information. The experiments examine how jury composition (in terms of the distribution of reasoning levels and pre-deliberation verdict choices within the jury) affect the level of reasoning of the jury as a body. The results should lead to more sophisticated predictions of social decision-making that include measures of individual differences in reasoning.

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