ASM 275 - Unit One Study Guide Exam
With Complete Solutions
What is a forensic anthropologist and what do they do? - ANSWER - a forensic
anthropologist studies skeletonized or decomposed remains to aid in a legal
investigation
- they answer questions pertaining to human behavior
- analyze skeletal remains
- excavate graves, sketch site
- use otseometric board to measure remains
- determine age, living stature, sex, and ancestry of remains
- analyze bone trauma vs pathology
- assess PMI
- use archaeological methods to recover remains in systematic way
- analyze unique features to help identify victims
- identify remains in the case of those killed in war or mass disasters
- aid in investigating deaths with little medico-legal significance that have profound
historical value (murder of Russian family 1918)
Levels of Measurement: how do they differ?
- nominal
- ordinal
- interval
- ratio - ANSWER - nominal: named
ex) by color: green, orange, blue
* mode, frequency
- ordinal: named and ordered
ex) by order of size: small, medium, large
* mode, median, frequency
, - interval: named, ordered, and equal distance between values
ex) measurement of elevation based on sea level (sea level of 0 is not lack of
elevation)
* mode, median, mean
- ratio: named, ordered, equal distance between values, absolute 0
ex) by lengths of one side of the square: 1cm, 2cm, and 3 cm
* mode, median, mean
Accuracy vs Precision - ANSWER accuracy: the degree to which a measurement
conforms to the correct (true value) [independent of precision]
precision: the ability of a measurement to be consistently reproduced
Sources of Error:
Intra- vs. Inter-observer Error - ANSWER intra-observer: refers to the precision of data
recorded by the same observer, within-observer error
inter-observer: error resulting from variation in the accuracy of data recorded by
different observers, between observer error
Metadata - ANSWER data that is about other data, refers to variable that you collect
that do not relate to the specific research question but allow one to assess the quality of
the data and its susceptibility to random and systemic error
clavicle - ANSWER the collarbone
scapula - ANSWER shoulder blade
sternum - ANSWER breastbone
ribs - ANSWER The bones in the chest that protect the heart and lungs. (framework of
the thoracic cavity)
humerus - ANSWER upper arm bone, runs from shoulder to elbow
radius - ANSWER lateral bone of the forearm (thumb side) / lateral and parallel to ulna
ulna - ANSWER -medial bone in forearm
-forms major portion of elbow joint with humerus
carpals - ANSWER wrist bones
metacarpals - ANSWER hand bones
phalanges - ANSWER the bones of the fingers and toes; 14 in each hand or foot
With Complete Solutions
What is a forensic anthropologist and what do they do? - ANSWER - a forensic
anthropologist studies skeletonized or decomposed remains to aid in a legal
investigation
- they answer questions pertaining to human behavior
- analyze skeletal remains
- excavate graves, sketch site
- use otseometric board to measure remains
- determine age, living stature, sex, and ancestry of remains
- analyze bone trauma vs pathology
- assess PMI
- use archaeological methods to recover remains in systematic way
- analyze unique features to help identify victims
- identify remains in the case of those killed in war or mass disasters
- aid in investigating deaths with little medico-legal significance that have profound
historical value (murder of Russian family 1918)
Levels of Measurement: how do they differ?
- nominal
- ordinal
- interval
- ratio - ANSWER - nominal: named
ex) by color: green, orange, blue
* mode, frequency
- ordinal: named and ordered
ex) by order of size: small, medium, large
* mode, median, frequency
, - interval: named, ordered, and equal distance between values
ex) measurement of elevation based on sea level (sea level of 0 is not lack of
elevation)
* mode, median, mean
- ratio: named, ordered, equal distance between values, absolute 0
ex) by lengths of one side of the square: 1cm, 2cm, and 3 cm
* mode, median, mean
Accuracy vs Precision - ANSWER accuracy: the degree to which a measurement
conforms to the correct (true value) [independent of precision]
precision: the ability of a measurement to be consistently reproduced
Sources of Error:
Intra- vs. Inter-observer Error - ANSWER intra-observer: refers to the precision of data
recorded by the same observer, within-observer error
inter-observer: error resulting from variation in the accuracy of data recorded by
different observers, between observer error
Metadata - ANSWER data that is about other data, refers to variable that you collect
that do not relate to the specific research question but allow one to assess the quality of
the data and its susceptibility to random and systemic error
clavicle - ANSWER the collarbone
scapula - ANSWER shoulder blade
sternum - ANSWER breastbone
ribs - ANSWER The bones in the chest that protect the heart and lungs. (framework of
the thoracic cavity)
humerus - ANSWER upper arm bone, runs from shoulder to elbow
radius - ANSWER lateral bone of the forearm (thumb side) / lateral and parallel to ulna
ulna - ANSWER -medial bone in forearm
-forms major portion of elbow joint with humerus
carpals - ANSWER wrist bones
metacarpals - ANSWER hand bones
phalanges - ANSWER the bones of the fingers and toes; 14 in each hand or foot
