Criminal Law – Cheap Research Essays

Research Exercise #1
Research Exercise Prompt:
Observation and analysis of how an individual is behaving can play just as important a role as what the person tells
you. In fact, research suggests that as much as 60% of the message conveyed can come from non-verbal
communication. Much has been made in Criminal Justice in recent years of using observations of non-verbal cues to
determine a suspect’s innocence or guilt. In this assignment, you will compare and contrast verbal and non-verbal
communication in an interrogation setting in a well-organized and argued essay. Please respond to the following
questions:
• How do you interpret non-verbal and physical behavior?
• Can you use non-verbal communication to detect when someone is lying; and, if so, how reliable is it?
• Is there enough scientific data to support using non-verbal communication and body language to make a
determination of innocence and guilt?
• How might issues of race, ethnicity, and gender change non-verbal communication and does this change its
usefulness in criminal investigations.
In constructing your answer, you MUST include the following resources:
1. At least one (1) video on the internet in which an expert explains the meaning of non-verbal or physical
behavior during an interview or interrogation; or, find a video of an interview or interrogation and conduct your
own analysis of the non-verbal or physical behavior you observe. Identify at least three behaviors and what
these behaviors mean.
2. At least two (2) peer-reviewed, published articles that includes an explanation of verbal versus non-verbal
communication. Discuss how the authors support or refute the use of non-verbal communication.
Assignment Mechanics:
• Your response should be six (6) to eight (8) pages in length, double-spaced, 12 point font, with standard
margins.
• All resources should be properly cited using APA format.
• Refer to the grading rubric for this assignment for specifics on grading requirements.