Measurements and Scales, Use in Forensic Research

A variety of assessment measures and scales are used in forensic research. Research concerning forensic assessment is particularly relevant to the legal system. Judges rely on the opinions of experts regarding acceptability and accuracy of measurements in order to make decisions such as admissibility of evidence (see Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993)). Forensic assessment research focuses on creating valid and reliable measurements of constructs relevant to the court system, including competency, mental status, and risk. Therefore, there is little distinction between the use of measures in forensic research and in forensic practice, with the goal of much research being to improve measurement in practice. There are many different applications of forensic assessment (ranging from diverse applications such as parole evaluations, ...