Who is entitled to provide ultimate opinion testimony?
a. lay witnesses only
b. expert witnesses only
c. both lay witnesses and expert witnesses
d. neither lay witnesses nor expert witnesses
Question 2According to Faust et al. (2010), ALL BUT WHICH of the following is an informal criterion that many trial judges rely upon to decide whether expert testimony is admissible?
a. The testimony must be helpful to the jury.
b. The testimony must be trustworthy and valid.
c. The testimony must be nonredundant with other previous testimony.
d. The testimony must help prove or disprove an important issue in the case.
Question 3Dr. Beatty, a forensic psychologist, has been contacted to serve as an expert witness for an upcoming court case. How will it be determined whether her testimony is admissible in court?
a. Her testimony will be admissible if she possesses all the necessary credentials (doctoral degree from an accredited program, postdoctoral training, board certification).
b. Her testimony will be admissible if it is generally accepted by others in her professional field.
c. Her testimony will be admissible if it is generally accepted by others in her own and other related professional fields (e.g., psychiatry).
d. Her testimony will be admissible if the trial judge deems it to be relevant and valid.
Question 4Which of the following is an accurate statement about the 1993 Supreme Court decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow?
a. It was intended to make the criteria for determining the admissibility of expert testimony more liberal and flexible, and it has had that effect.
b. It was intended to make the criteria for determining the admissibility of expert testimony more liberal and flexible, and it has had the opposite effect.
c. It was intended to make the criteria for determining the admissibility of expert testimony more restrictive, and it has had that effect.
d. It was intended to make the criteria for determining the admissibility of expert testimony more restrictive, and it has had the opposite effect.
Question 5What is the significance of the 1993 Supreme Court decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow?
a. It changed the criteria for the admissibility of expert testimony.
b. It narrowed the scope of the opinions that may be offered by expert witnesses.
c. It broadened the scope of the opinions that may be offered by lay witnesses.
d. more than one of the above