title: Implementing context information management in forensic casework: Minimizing contextual bias in firearms examination.
abstract: Managing context information in forensic casework aims to minimize task-irrelevant information while maximizing the task-relevant information that reaches the examiner. A design and implementation of context information management (CIM) is described for forensic firearms examination. Guided by a taxonomy of different sources of context information, a flow-chart was constructed that specifies the process of casework examination and context information management. Due to the risk of bias, another examiner may need to be involved when context information management is unsuccessful. Application of context information management does not make a subjective examination objective, but can limit the risks of bias with a minimal investment of time and resources.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, PO Box 24044, 2490 AA The Hague, The Netherlands; Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.mattijssen@nfi.minvenj.nl.
authors.forename: E J A T
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mattijssen
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, PO Box 24044, 2490 AA The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kerkhoff
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, PO Box 24044, 2490 AA The Hague, The Netherlands; Leiden University, Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology, PO Box 9520, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C E H
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: University College London (UCL) and Cognitive Consultants International (CCI-HQ), United Kingdom.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Dror
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, PO Box 24044, 2490 AA The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stoel
keywords: Cognitive forensics; Context information management; Contextual bias; Quality assurance; Subjective judgment; Task-irrelevant case information