Impact of Human–Technology Cooperation and Distributed Cognition in Forensic Science: Biasing Effects of AFIS Contextual Information on Human Experts

Experts play a critical role in forensic decisionmaking, even when cognition is offloaded and distributed between human and machine. In this paper, the researchers investigated the impact of using Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) on human decisionmakers. The researchers provided 3680 AFIS lists (a total of 55,200 comparisons) to 23 latent fingerprint examiners as part of their normal casework. The researchers manipulated the position of the matching print in the AFIS list. The data showed that latent fingerprint examiners were affected by the position of the matching print in terms of false exclusions and false inconclusives. Furthermore, the data showed that false identification errors were more likely at the top of the list and that such errors occurred even when the correct match was present further down the list. These effects need to be studied and considered carefully, so as to optimize human decisionmaking when using technologies such as AFIS. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.