As technology and scientific methodology evolve, concerns about good or valid science or flawed science also
evolve. New methodologies and scientific processes must be carefully evaluated to prove validity. Some
processes never attain their hype, some initially appear valid but evolving technology and science later disprove
them, while other processes never existed and were simply a dramatic plot twist. It is difficult for the average
person to tell the difference.
Prior to beginning work on this assignment, please review the following:
• From the text:
◦ Chapter 1: Forensic Science and Criminalistics
◦ Chapter 2: Crime Scene Processing and Analysis and Forensic Technologies
• The videos:
◦ All About Forensic Science
◾ Segment 1. What Is Forensic Science 05:04
◾ Segment 2. Busting TV Stereotypes 04:32
◦ Burned: Three Alleged Arson Cases Investigated
◦ Flawed Forensics: The System With Joe Berlinger
• From the free PDF copy at the web page Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path
Forward (https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589/strengthening-forensic-science-in-the-united-states-a-pathforward)
◦ Introduction
◦ Findings and Recommendations
• The web pages:
◦ Choosing a Career (https://www.aafs.org/home-page/students/choosing-a-career/)
◦ Crime Scene Investigation (https://www.nfstc.org/products/crime-scene-investigation-guide/)
◦ CSI Effect Theory: Strategies and Views (http://projects.nfstc.org/csieffect/index.html)
• The article Peer Review in Forensic Science
• These Ashford Library modules:
◦ Evaluating Web Resources: Why It’s Important and What to Look for
(https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=52CEE421F3DD799D&resid=52cee421f3dd799d!
123&authkey=ACMdEXqpFsUl1z4&em=2&wdAr=1.3333333333333333)
◦ Evaluating Sources (https://content.bridgepointeducation.com/curriculum/file/420d54f6-c10c-4395-b5cc-
6ec62a958837/1/Evaluating%20Sources.zip/story_html5.html)
Scientific evidence must be evaluated by forensic experts through a peer review process, which the courts often
rely on to determine validity of scientific methods. Similarly, you must carefully evaluate the validity of the
material supporting your work. For this assignment, you must use at least three Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and
Other Credible Sources (https://content.bridgepointeducation.com/curriculum/file/e5359309-7d3c-4a21-a410-
44d59303ccef/1/Scholarly%20Peer-Reviewed%20and%20Other%20Credible%20Sources.pdf) in addition to the
course text. You may also want to review the recommended resources, which may further support your work on
this written assignment.
In your paper, address the following:
• Evaluate the evolution of forensic science.
• Identify examples of scientific methods that have been disproven.
• Explain the peer review process.
• Compare and contrast common perceptions to the realities of forensic science.
• Explain the CSI effect.
• Evaluate what impact the CSI effect has or does not have on the forensic field and the criminal justice
system.
• Evaluate the impact of junk science, real or perceived, on the forensic field and criminal justice.
The Is All Good and True? paper
• Must be 750 words in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style
as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s APA Style (http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/apa-style)
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
◦ Title of paper
◦ Student’s name
◦ Course name and number
◦ Instructor’s name
◦ Date submitted
For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Word 2013
(http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/apa-formatting-word-2013) .
• Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic Voice (http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/academic-voice)
resource for additional guidance.
• Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a
clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
◦ For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions (http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/introductionsconclusions)
as well as Writing a Thesis Statement (http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/writing-a-thesis) ,
refer to the Ashford Writing Center resources.
• Must use at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed, and/or credible sources in addition to the course text.
◦ The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources
(https://content.bridgepointeducation.com/curriculum/file/e5359309-7d3c-4a21-a410-
44d59303ccef/1/Scholarly%20Peer-Reviewed%20and%20Other%20Credible%20Sources.pdf) table offers
additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is
appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the
appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
◦ To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view this Ashford University
Library Quick ‘n’ Dirty
(https://ashford.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Ashford+University+Library+Quick+%27n%27+Dirty/0_bcsbcjee)
tutorial, which introduces the Ashford University Library and the research process, and provides some
library search tips.
• Must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s
Citing Within Your Paper (http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/citing-within-your-paper)
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford
Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List (http://writingcenter.ashford.edu/format-yourreference-
list) resource in the Ashford Writing Center for specifications.
Consider using the “Q” program to conduct your research. Searching for an article from the Ashford Library using
“Q”
*Note: To install and access “Q” see Q for Success and the Guide to Installing and Using Q for Success
(https://content.bridgepointeducation.com/curriculum/file/dd00f749-7449-469c-9bd3-
1e6e269bd895/1/Guide%20to%20Installing%20and%20Using%20Q%20for%20Success.pdf)
• Once in the Q program, type in specific search terms to search for library sources on your topic.
• Click on Source to help narrow your search by type of source or database.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric (http://au.waypointoutcomes.com/assessment/25745/preview) for the
criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.