NCJ Number
224592
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 35 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 1215-1230
Date Published
October 2008
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article identifies the key differences between the use of science and pseudoscience in law enforcement work.
Abstract
The article first defines “pseudoscience.” Traditionally, pseudosciences are viewed as disciplines that have the superficial appearance of science but lack its substance (Lilienfeld, 1999; Ruscio, 2006). Because they mimic some of the outward features of science, they can easily mislead untrained observers into concluding that their tenets are valid and can provide a foundation for planning and action. This article identifies and discusses 10 key features of pseudoscience that are especially pertinent to law enforcement. Sir Karl Popper proposed that “falsifiability” is the central criterion that distinguishes science from nonscience. “Falsifiability” means that a statement or theory can be proven false or true by using scientific methods, which rely on observable data. In most pseudosciences, “ad hoc maneuvers” are used to explain away negative findings or the lack of testing of the claims being made. In applying this warning sign of pseudoscience to police work, this article discusses the reliability of fingerprint analysis. Other characteristics of pseudoscience noted are its evasion of peer review, its lack of self-correction based on ongoing scientific testing of its tenets, the absence of safeguards against a bias toward confirming popular tenets/theories, and an overreliance on testimonial and anecdotal evidence rather than scientific methods applied under a broad range of circumstances and methodologies. Other features of pseudoscience are extravagant claims; the “ad antequitem” fallacy (claims that endure over time are necessarily correct); an implicit expectation that others must prove the claims wrong; an absence of “connectivity” with other scientific disciplines; and the use of “hypertechnical” language in order to provide an impression of scientific legitimacy. For each of these features of pseudoscience, examples from police work are provided. 119 references