911勛圖

Making Evidence Count: Feature Rarity and Examiner Decision Thresholds in Fingerprint Analysis

Fingerprint examiners play a key role in criminal investigations, often working with partial or unclear prints. One of their earliest decisions is whether a fingerprint contains enough useful detail to compare it to another print, yet there are few standardized rules to guide this judgment. To make this decision, examiners often rely on the number, appearance, and arrangement of features in a fingerprint, placing more weight on features they believe are unusual or rare. However, these judgments are based on examiners��� general impressions of feature rarity rather than objective data, because comprehensive data on how often these features occur do not yet exist. Past research shows that these perceptions of ���rarity��� vary widely between examiners and even within the same examiner over time, contributing to inconsistent decisions.

This project examines how such variability influences early judgments about whether a fingerprint should be compared to a suspect���s print. By better understanding these decision processes, this research aims to improve the reliability, consistency, and transparency of fingerprint analysis. In turn, this work can help reduce wrongful accusations and convictions while also minimizing the risk of missed investigative leads.

Redefining Social Competence: A Neuro-Affirming, Strengths-Based Framework for Autistic and Neurodivergent Youth and Adults?

Social competence is critical to how we think, live, and interact with each other and the world around us. Yet most existing measures, including our own Multidimensional Social Competence Scale (MSCS), remain deficit-focused and benchmarked against neurotypical norms. These approaches fail to capture the authentic, context-dependent, and diverse ways SC is expressed among neurodivergent populations. By shifting from deficit-based assessments to affirming, strengths-oriented approaches, this research will support belonging, participation, and well-being for neurodivergent people.

This project will co-develop and validate a multidimensional, inclusive framework of SC with autistic and neurodivergent youth and adults, resulting in an adapted MSCS and strengths-based Social Competence Toolkits for educators, clinicians, and employers with practical resources for fostering inclusion.

Increasing the Reliability of Video Evidence

As surveillance footage and facial recognition technology play an increasingly central role in criminal investigations, concerns about wrongful arrests due to mistaken identifications are growing. These errors often occur when human examiners interpret facial recognition technology results and incorrectly match a person in video evidence to an innocent suspect.

This project examines the factors that influence the reliability of face-matching decisions, including professional experience, contextual bias, and procedures designed to reduce errors. The goal is to identify evidence-based practices that improve decision-making and reduce the risk of false identifications. By advancing scientific standards for the use of facial recognition evidence, this research aims to strengthen the fairness and accuracy of the justice system and enhance public trust in forensic technologies.

Supporting Inclusive Identity Development in Canada's Changing Immigration Climate

This project investigates how changes in immigration policy and public sentiment shape identity development for immigrants and bicultural adults in Canada, and what helps people build an inclusive, integrated sense of self in an increasingly polarized society.

In the 2020 General Social Survey, 92% of Canadians agreed that ethnocultural diversity is a Canadian value. Yet in Canada and abroad, immigration has become a flashpoint for political polarization, and rising anti-immigrant sentiment may change how people experience belonging. Immigration involves profound acts of self-reconstruction. As people navigate multiple cultural identities, everyday experiences of inclusion, exclusion, and uncertainty can shape how they see themselves and where they feel they belong. At the same time, successfully integrating multiple cultural identities can foster creativity, empathy, cognitive flexibility, and stronger connections across communities.

The project will follow participants over several months using brief daily surveys to understand how everyday social interactions relate to identity, belonging, and well-being. It will experimentally test two interventions designed to support inclusive identity development, using guided narrative writing and collaborative role-playing, to help people integrate different aspects of their identities. This work aims to inform programs and policies that strengthen belonging, resilience, and social cohesion in multicultural Canada.