NCJ Number
175973
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 43 Issue: 5 Dated: September 1998 Pages: 959-963
Date Published
1998
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study generated canonical variates from stepwise discriminant function analyses that distinguished between American blacks and whites and between males and females, using palatal dimensions; formulas that can be applied to fragmentary remains of the palate were also generated.
Abstract
Dental casts of the maxilla of 332 adolescents and young adults were studied. Half were black and half were white; the sample was divided proportionately between males and females. Of the 332 cases, 220 had complete data. Measurements were made between cusp tips, so palate size included bony and dental components. Stepwise discriminant analysis was used to generate canonical functions from the subsets of the variables that maximally distinguished between blacks and whites, males and female, or both. Programs from both SAS (n=7) and BMDP (n=8) statistical packages were used. Various collections of variables were tested in anticipation of which regions of the palate are most likely to be preserved, if not the whole. The alpha level for variable entry and exit were set at 0.05. Blacks, with a more square palate, were distinguished from whites primarily by greater interpremolar width and P1-to-M2 depths. Simultaneous prediction of race and sex had a correct classification of 48 percent, which is approximately twice that expected from chance. Pooling the two genders increased correct classification of race to 83 percent. Formulas also are provided for each variable separately to accommodate fragmentary remains. Resilience of palatal structures to traumatic and natural forces makes this method practical in several forensic situations. 3 figures, 6 tables, and 22 references