Relevance of Voice Identification Research to Criteria for Evaluating Reliability of an Identification

• Published in: The journal of psychology Vol. 123; no. 2; pp. 109 - 119
• Main Authors: Deffenbacher, Kenneth A., Cross, John F., Handkins, Robert E., Chance, June E., Goldstein, Alvin G., Hammersley, Richard, Read, J. Don
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Provincetown, MA Taylor & Francis Group 01.03.1989; Journal Press; Journal Press, etc; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Applied psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Ears & hearing; Evaluation; Evaluation techniques; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Identification; Miscellaneous; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reliability; Speech; Witnesses; Human; Testimony; Hearing; Language; Language perception; Interindividual comparison; Perception; Identification; Voice
• ISSN: 0022-3980; 1940-1019
• DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1989.10542967

We reviewed voice identification studies as they relate to the Neil v. Biggers (1972) criteria for evaluating reliability of an identification: witness' opportunity to listen, degree of attention, accuracy of prior description of voice, degree of certainty, and extent of delay of identification test. Only the first two and last of these criteria appear to have much validity in making assessments as to the accuracy of an earwitness report. Even so, experimental psychologists do not yet have enough information to recommend how these three criteria might be applied with precision and sophistication.