NCJ Number
77866
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: special issue (1980) Pages: 373-394
Date Published
1980
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Data from a 4-year research program were used to elucidate, support, and contradict published work on voice identification by human listeners, with conclusions that the caution and suspicion accorded to visual identification must be extended to voice identification.
Abstract
Common opinions about voice memory and recognition are reviewed, while early studies into such identification are outlined. Data from a 4-year government and institutional grant research program were then used to classify and evaluate existing research in seven different areas of voice identification. The first involved studies into the nature and quality of the speech sample heard. Secondly, consideration was given to research on the effect of disguise upon voice identification. Attention was then turned to studies into identification of incidentally and intentionally memorized voices, work on the effect of delay upon voice identification was examined, followed by studies into possible training effects in voice identification. The last two areas of research discussed are studies into the effect of age of witness upon voice identification and studies into the relationship between witness accuracy and confidence. Conclusions look to the prognosis concerning the reliability of voice identification, with particular emphasis placed on the need for caution in using such evidence. A table, 14 notes, and 69 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)