Week 8, Final Week!

Over the past eight weeks, I have learned a lot about for forensic field, especially through all the different kinds of research. I was not aware that there are so many different ways to do research. I feel like I answered all my questions that I asked in week one, and along the way. I feel really good with the forensic field and knowing everything it entails. 

Week 7!!

My research question is: What are the different fields in forensics? 

Over the last seven weeks, I have found many reliable sources that have showed me the different fields in forensics. This week, I researched into the fields I have already touched on. The gaps I filled in my research are the legal side of forensics, found specific job titles, found specific information about fingerprinting and DNA and how they are able to match everything, and found out more information about criminal profiling. I feel that through all the research, I have covered just about everything I have intended to... and more!

My research bibs are posted below:

1. Nute, Dale. "Advice about a Career in Forensic Science." Advice about a Career in Forensic Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/faculty/nute/FScareers.html>.

I chose this article because it talks about the different jobs available in the forensic field. 

2. "Fingerprints." Fingerprints. National Museum of Crime & Punishment, 2008. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.crimemuseum.org/library/forensics/fingerprints.html>.

This article is about fingerprinting. “Fingerprint identification is one of the most important criminal investigation tools due to two aspects of fingerprints: their persistence and their uniqueness.” 

3. "Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling." - ResearchGate. John Wiley & Sons, 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.researchgate.net/journal/1544-4767_Journal_of_Investigative_Psychology_and_Offender_Profiling>.

This journal article is about criminal profiling. “all aspects of interviewing, statement assessment, validation and analysis, the detection of deception, and related matters of forensic hypnosis and 'lie detectors', false allegations and investigative aspects of recovered memories are also welcome.”

4. "DNA Evidence: Basics of Analyzing." National Institute of Justice. N.p., 9 Aug. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/evidence/dna/basics/analyzing.htm>.

This article is about DNA. “1) the isolation of the DNA from an evidence sample containing DNA of unknown origin, and generally at a later time, the isolation of DNA from a sample (e.g., blood) from a known individual; 2) the processing of the DNA so that test results may be obtained; 3) the determination of the DNA test results (or types), from specific regions of the DNA; and 4) the comparison and interpretation of the test results from the unknown and known samples to determine whether the known individual is not the source of the DNA or is included as a possible source of the DNA.”

5. Conroy, Mary A. "Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology." Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology. N.p., 2009. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <http://www.forensicpsychologyunbound.ws/OAJFP/Conroy_2009.html>.

I chose this journal article because it is about risk management and risk assessment. 

6. Fabian, John M., PSY.D., J.D., ABPP. "Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology." Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology. N.p., 2 Mar. 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. <http://www.forensicpsychologyunbound.ws/OAJFP/Fabian_2010.html>.

This journal article talks about forensic psychology and the legal system. “The legal questions derive from legislation and statutes addressing forensic areas such as insanity, competency to stand trial, sexually violent predator (SVP) civil commitment, death penalty mitigation, personal injury, and child custody.  As a result, the practice of forensic psychology demands experts to develop a specialized knowledge of legal issues within their area(s) of expertise.” 

Week Six!

I feel this week's "issues regarding academic integrity, plagiarism, intellectual property, and alternatives to traditional copyright practices" have not affected my understanding of research and the way I use information. I have always known if I copy something, I need to put it in quotes and give credit to whoever wrote it. Over the last six weeks, I have quoted parts of the articles I have found, then cited the article at the end, in the cited area. If I am using multiple sources, I put parenthesis after the quotation and write where I quoted it from. The fact that Brandman had us take this weeks quiz makes me wonder if plagiarism is something that has been used these past few weeks? 

Week... CINCO!

** Today was my God Daughter's 2nd birthday and her whole family is Mexican. I found the title with "cinco" highly appropriate because of this! =)

This week we were asked to find an empirical research paper. I found mine on an Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology. This article is about how people with seizures should be evaluated by a forensic psychologist when they have a violent outbreak or an assault. This article tells the reader what epilepsy is and the different kinds of it. It tells us about a very interesting case of a man going to sleep, being violent toward his girlfriend at 2am, then waking up later (after being arrested and going to ER for evaluation) with no recollection of the incident. It is a highly interesting article that, if you enjoy anything I have posted, you will definitely want to read this.

This article introduced me to different areas of studies of the mind. I worked in the ER at Balboa Hospital for roughly 3.5 years and have seen many seizures. This article made me really think about the dangers of seizures if they are not monitored. I did not realize they could get violent like the case described. This article has helped me realize that forensic psychology is another field that had a lot of different categories in it also. I feel like my research skills are improving drastically! I did not realize there are so many different forms of research out there!

"The issue of automatism (non-volitional actions carried out in an unconscious state) sometimes arises in assessments of mental state at the time of offense. Epileptoid automatism has been observed in the medical and forensic literature. Forensic psychologists should consider the possibility of epileptoid automatism when presented with a defendant who has committed a seemingly senseless crime, especially for defendants with a history of seizure disorder, head injury, or other neurological insult. Crimes that require planning, take place over a more extended period, and have an obvious motive are unlikely to be caused by epilepsy."

An Unusual Case of Epileptic Postictal Violence:
Implication for Criminal Responsibility
Eric G. Mart, Ph.D., ABPP, Forensic
Manchester, NH, United States
http://www.forensicpsychologyunbound.ws/OAJFP/Case_Studies_files/Mart%202010.pdf