IAI General Research
The following research projects are posted by the IAI as a service to members. The IAI maintains no further information about any particular project that is posted. Listing does not constitute an endorsement by the IAI. Please correspond directly with the agency or individual doing the research.
IAI Research Listing Policies
- Research projects for posting, not to exceed 60 days. If no date is specified, the information will be removed after 60 days.
- Please make sure the posting has the name of the organization or individual doing the research.
- Please make sure your documentation includes a link to the survey
Send Posting Request To:
Glen Calhoun,COO
International Association for Identification
2131 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 403
Hollywood, FL 33020
USA
Voice: (954) 589-0628
Email: gcalhoun@theiai.org
Please send the information in electronic form (not scanned)
Research Postings Below
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Assessing the impact of the Sydney Declaration: a survey of Forensic Science professionals
More than one year after the publication of the declaration and following multiple efforts to discuss and disseminate the Sydney Declaration worldwide, we have decided to conduct a Questionnaire based survey to collect data on how the Sydney Declaration has been received by the forensic science community.
The aim of the exercise is to (1) collect feedback from forensic science professionals about the declared definition and each of the principles, (2) assess how well the SD has been disseminated and (3) what aspects of the declaration (if any) have been practically implemented.
This study is the first formal evaluation of the Sydney Declaration’s impact on forensic science practice. The anonymized results of the questionnaire will be analyzed and presented at relevant conferences and events. More importantly, information collected will be used to inform and direct future projects relating to the Sydney Declaration and its practical implementation.
Links to the survey (in three languages) can be found below Sydney Declaration survey -
English Sydney declaration survey
Spanish Sydney declaration survey
French Sydney declaration survey
Posted 8/9/23
PNWD-IAI Special Research Project - Latent Print Distortion:
This research project focuses on latent print distortion— more specifically how well participants (LPEs or not) are able to recognize distortion in latent prints, and determine what has caused said distortion. We hope to be able to produce summary statistics and analyze the differences both within and between the categories of those that are LPEs, and those that are not.
Anyone can participate! Latent print examination experience is not a requirement.
Go to the PNWD-IAI website: https://pnwdiai.org/resources/ for informed consent and questionnaire. This study will take approximately 20-30 minutes on average to complete. Results may be presented at a future conference or webinar and submitted for publication. Results will be anonymous, and information in the study records will be kept confidential.
For questions reach out to:
- Tyler Fee (fingerprint.datacollector@gmail.com),
- Nikki Wagar (ridgelineforensics@gmail.com),
- or Nick Craven (nicolas.craven6@gmail.com)
Posted 7/1/23
Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Hiring Requirements and Expectations
This survey is designed to establish what current Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) professionals consider minimum education levels for their discipline. "CSI" for the purposes of this survey includes all personnel tasked with the identification, documentation, collection, packaging, and preservation of evidence. Those in the USA employed as crime scene investigators or crime scene managers/supervisors who play an active role in reviewing and evaluating applicants for their agencies are encouraged to participate. Your involvement in the hiring process does not have to be immediately in the past. Those who are involved in the hiring process but are not directly supervising CSIs are also welcome to participate, as well as those who are involved in less than full-time CSI duties (such as being cross-trained, ad hoc scene response teams, etc.).
The data collected will used to help inform organizations like OSAC and FEPAC, academic institutions, educators, parents, students, job applicants, and other parties who are interested in crime scene investigation about employment hiring attitudes, what the current landscape of education is for crime scene investigators, and for possible recommended education requirements for CSIs.
Questions, concerns, and contact directed to Joe Treviño at: joe.cruz.trevino+research@gmail.com
Link: https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9t6dvyjO1UPicC2
Posted 6/12/23
Crime Laboratory Personnel Hiring Requirements and Expectations
This survey is designed to assess current understanding and attitudes about education requirements for forensic science professionals, the role the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Council (FEPAC) plays in applicant preparation, and how well applicants from all forensic science educational backgrounds navigate the employment process. Those employed in crime laboratories who play an active role in reviewing and evaluating applicants for their agencies are encouraged to participate. This can be public sector forensic science or private sector forensic science. Your involvement in the hiring process does not have to be immediately in the past.
The data collected will be used to help inform forensic science educators, forensic science professionals, forensic science students, forensic science school applicants, and other stakeholders interested in forensic science education about employment hiring requirements and what the current landscape of forensic science education is.
Questions, concerns, and contact directed to Joe Treviño at: joe.cruz.trevino+research@gmail.com
Link: https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YD4Ng3WudU5C1U
Posted 6/12/23
A Qualitative Study on Crime Scene Management’s Proactive Support in the Mental Health of Crime Scene Investigators
The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate what current proactive practices are in place to support the mental health and well-being of crime scene investigators. It is well known that crime scene investigation work can result in stressors due to the nature of the job. Responding to, documenting, and processing sometimes horrific scenes can take a toll on an investigator’s mental well-being. As a previous crime scene specialist, I have a passion for this field and the important role that investigators have in investigations and the criminal justice system.. The success of this study is based data collected from professionals, such as yourself, to understand what current practices are in place and how they can be improved.
- Participant is a full-time supervisor
- Participant manages crime scene investigators
Posted 3/27/23
Latent Print Examiner Black Box Study 2022 (LBB22)
The Latent Print Examiner Black Box Study 2022 (LBB22) is being conducted to measure the accuracy and reproducibility of latent print examiners’ decisions when comparing latents to known fingerprints that were acquired by searches of the FBI Next Generation Identification (NGI) system, and to compare these results with those from previously published Black Box studies. In particular, this study will evaluate whether latent print examiner performance has changed since the 2009-2011 FBI-Noblis Latent Print Black Box Study, in which nonmated image pairs were selected using the earlier FBI IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System).
https://latentbb.edgeaws.noblis.org/#/
Posted 3/1/2023
Forensic soil survey
Are you in law enforcement, are you a forensic soil analyst, or a forensic service provider? If you are over 18 and fluent in English, we’re interested in hearing about your experience and thoughts about forensic soil or geological materials evidence. You are invited to participate in a voluntary survey run by Dr. Gwyneth Gordon of Arizona State University about geological soil evidence. For more information, go to this website: https://forms.gle/N6c2qdBWxPPgh2pd7.
If you have any questions about your rights as a subject/participant in this research, or if you feel you have been placed at risk, you can contact the Chair of the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board, through the ASU Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, at (480) 965-6788. Please reference IRB STUDY#00016934.
Posted 12/5/2022
Forensic Examiners Needed to Participate in an Impression Quality Survey
I (Lily Lin) am seeking forensic examiners (of any sub-discipline and not limited to footwear) to participate in an online footwear impression quality survey.
This study is part of my PhD research in Forensic Science at West Virginia University (WVU) and has an approved protocol (No. 2002883012) on file with WVU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Willing participants will review 55 pairs of shoeprint impressions, and rate the type and reliability of information available in the impressions, as well as provide an opinion regarding the highest level of source-attribution that can be reached based on the totality of information present. All responses will be anonymized and personally identifiable information such as your name will not be collected. I anticipate that the survey will take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours to complete (about 1 min to review each image pair) and must be completed in a single sitting (the survey will terminate if the web browser remains idle for over 15 mins).
To participate, please email me (Lily) at el0049@mix.wvu.edu, or simply access the following URL: https://wvu-speir-research-group.shinyapps.io/shiny_shoe/
The survey will remain open for six months (May 31, 2023), but I would be grateful for your early participation (prior to January 31, 2023). Thank you in advance! Your time, effort, and participation are greatly appreciated!
Posted 11/2/22
Reliability and limits of the Accreditation in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
Data collection is done via a survey created specifically for this research, which is directed to bloodstain pattern analysts.
English questionnaire : https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/biqw028a?owa_nom_questionnaire=Reliability_and_limits_of_the_&owa_noquestionnaire=27168
French questionnaire : https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/biqw028a?owa_nom_questionnaire=Trace_de_sang&owa_noquestionnaire=26647
Posted 10/21/22
Factors Affecting Forensic Decision Making - Yale Decision Neuroscience Lab
The aim of this study is to explore factors that may play a role in the triaging of items collected from crime scenes.
More info Posted 8/2/2022