Do resemblance ratings measure the accuracy of facial approximations?

Full Abstract

Since forensic facial approximations are used to promote recognition of a deceased person, an accurate forensic facial approximation (FFA) should be easily recognized as the person to whom the skull belonged (target individual). However, the accuracy of FFAs has been previously assessed by the direct comparison of an FFA to the corresponding target individual for similarity (i.e., a resemblance rating). Resemblance ratings may not indicate a facial approximation's accuracy since the resemblance of non-target individuals is not accounted for. This experiment tests the validity of using resemblance ratings to assess the accuracy of FFAs. The study indicates that there is no statistically significant difference between:
(a) resemblance ratings of FFAs to target individuals and (b) resemblance ratings of FFAs to individuals incorrectly identified as the target individual. It is concluded that it is not possible from resemblance ratings to determine the accuracy and/or quality of a facial approximation since a non-target individual may receive a resemblance rating equal to, or higher than, the target individual.

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Author information

Author/s: Stephan, Carl N (CN);

Affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Validation Studies

Journal: Journal of forensic sciences (J Forensic Sci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 47 (issue 2) : pp 239-43

Dates: Created 2002/03/22; Completed 2002/05/20; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11908590, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Cephalometry - methods; standards
Confidence Intervals
Face - anatomy & histology
False Negative Reactions
False Positive Reactions
Forensic Anthropology - methods; standards

Forensic Anthropology - methods; standards
Humans
Recognition (Psychology)
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Skull - anatomy & histology

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