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The application of scientific knowledge to resolve questions of civil and criminal law.

Method seeking to find associations between evidence. Investigators evaluate the scene and then proceed through the area in a systematic and logical fashion. Based on the notion that one type of evidence leads to another. Works with large and small, indoor and outdoor crime scenes.

Used on large, outdoor crime scenes. Members of the search team are arranged at regular intervals, usually arm’s length, and then proceed to search along straight lines.

Used on large, outdoor crime scenes. Searchers follow the first line pattern and search in the same manner as the line method. Once the first line pattern is complete, searchers realign on the other line pattern.

Used on crime scenes that are comprised of readily definable zones, such as in houses or buildings. Teams are assigned small zones for searching, and then other appropriate searching methods are employed in each zone.

Used on crime scenes with no physical barriers, such as open water. Can either begin at critical point of crime scene (outward spiral) or the outer-edge of the crime scene (inward spiral).

Used on small, circular crime scenes. Investigators start from a critical point and travel outward along many straight lines from this point.

A person of interest is someone who law enforcement thinks may have information related to a possible crime

Polygraph tests, commonly known as lie detector tests, are sometimes used in forensic cases to help determine the truthfulness of someone who may be connected to a possible crime.

Polygraph tests, commonly known as lie detector tests, are sometimes used in forensic cases to help determine the truthfulness of someone who may be connected to a possible crime.

The pressure exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels

How many breaths you take in one minute

How the amount of sweat produced impacts the ability to conduct electricity

Measurements—specifically pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure—that indicate the state of a patient’s essential body functions.

The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction.

The group in an experiment where the independent variable being tested is not applied.

A research study conducted to understand an observed phenomenon; determines the effect that one variable has upon another variable.

A statement predicting the anticipated results of an experiment.

A process used to carefully plan experiments in order to investigate scientific questions or problems.

Repeating a series of steps over and over until the desired outcome is obtained.

In an experiment, the variable that the researcher intentionally changes to determine its influence on the dependent variable.

In an experiment, the variable being measured and whose value is influenced by another variable.

Tiny fragments of physical evidence, such as hairs, fibers from clothing or carpeting, and pieces of glass.

The cortex is home to the pigment-containing granules responsible for hair color and contains many of the characteristics used in the microscopic analysis of hair.