PSYO 2444 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026
What are the two main types of judicial systems? - Answers Adversarial systems and inquisitorial
systems.
What is the primary function of a jury? - Answers To apply the law to admissible evidence and render
a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
What is the difference between civil and criminal juries in Canada? - Answers Civil juries have 6-8
members and use the balance of probabilities; criminal juries have 12 members and use beyond a
reasonable doubt.
What is a summary offence? - Answers A minor offence processed by provincial court, such as breach
of probation.
What is an indictable offence? - Answers A serious offence that can be tried by a judge only, a judge
and jury, or at the accused's choice.
What is a hybrid offence? - Answers An offence that can be prosecuted as either a summary or
indictable offence.
What is the jury selection process in Canada governed by? - Answers The Juries Act.
What are the eligibility criteria for jury duty in Canada? - Answers Must be a Canadian citizen, live in
the province, and be at least 18 years old.
What is a preemptory challenge? - Answers A challenge to a juror without cause, allowing a lawyer to
veto a juror based on a 'gut check.'
What is a challenge for cause? - Answers A challenge based on specific reasons related to a juror's
ability to be impartial.
What are the qualities that juries must possess? - Answers Representativeness and impartiality.
What are some threats to jury impartiality? - Answers Pre-trial publicity, biases, and prejudices.
What is one method to mitigate threats to jury impartiality? - Answers Change of venue.
What are the four methodologies used to study jury behaviour? - Answers Post-trial interviews,
archival records, field studies, and simulations.
Why are post-trial interviews not possible in Canada? - Answers Jurors are forbidden by law from
disclosing the content of deliberations.
What is the strength of using archival records in jury studies? - Answers High external validity.
What is a limitation of field studies in jury research? - Answers Permission from courts may be
difficult to obtain.
What is the purpose of note-taking for jurors? - Answers To facilitate memory and comprehension.
What is the role of the judge in the jury trial process? - Answers To make decisions within each trial
and instruct juries on disregarding inadmissible evidence.
What is the significance of the R. v. Stanley case in jury selection? - Answers It involved the use of
preemptory challenges, which were eliminated by Bill C-75 in 2019.
What does 'disregarding inadmissible evidence' mean for jurors? - Answers Jurors are instructed to
ignore statements or evidence that should not be considered in their deliberations.
What is the financial compensation for jury duty in Ontario after 50 days? - Answers $100 per day.
What effect do jurors experience when told to disregard evidence? - Answers Backfire effect: Jurors
pay more attention to evidence after being told to disregard it.
What type of trial did Kassin & Sommers (1997) conduct? - Answers A mock murder trial.
What are the experimental conditions in Kassin & Sommers' study? - Answers Control (no wiretap),
Admissible (evidence admitted), Disregard (difficult to comprehend), Disregard (illegally obtained).
What is a major issue with jurors' understanding of judges' instructions? - Answers Jurors do not
remember, understand, or accurately apply instructions.
What reforms can improve judges' instructions? - Answers Rewriting instructions, providing written
copies, pre- and post-evidence instructions, and lawyers clarifying instructions.
What is the purpose of the Vetrovec warning? - Answers To caution jurors about the credibility of
certain witnesses, such as accomplices or jailhouse informants.
What are the three criteria for evaluating stories in juror decision-making? - Answers Coverage,
Coherence, Uniqueness.
What demographic factors can influence juror decision-making? - Answers Gender, race, age,
socioeconomic status, and education level.
How do women jurors generally differ in their verdicts compared to men? - Answers Women jurors
tend to be less punitive.
, What did Anwar et al. (2017) find regarding the inclusion of women jurors? - Answers Inclusion had
little effect on conviction rates overall but impacted rates for female-salient offenses.
What is the Black sheep effect in relation to race and juror decision-making? - Answers When
evidence is weak, race similarity leads to leniency; when evidence is strong, it leads to punitiveness.
What personality traits are associated with juror decision-making? - Answers Authoritarianism and
Dogmatism, with rigid thinking and closed-mindedness.
What relationship did Devine & Laughlin (2014) find between authoritarianism and guilt judgments? -
Answers A positive relationship; higher authoritarianism correlates with higher guilt judgments.
What is the CSI effect? - Answers The phenomenon where jurors expect scientific evidence due to
watching crime-related shows, leading to acquittals when such evidence is absent.
How does the presence of a defendant's attractiveness influence juror verdicts? - Answers There is a
small relationship between attractiveness and verdict outcomes.
What impact do victim characteristics have in sexual assault cases? - Answers Victim's sexual history
can influence jurors' perceptions of credibility and blameworthiness.
What did Schuller & Hastings (2002) find regarding mock jurors and sexual history evidence? -
Answers Jurors exposed to sexual history were less likely to find the victim credible and more likely to
find the defendant not guilty.
What is the role of attitudes in juror decision-making? - Answers Attitudes towards various issues can
influence juror decisions, but few attitudes have been sufficiently investigated.
What is the relationship between death-qualified jurors and conviction rates? - Answers Death-
qualified jurors are more likely to vote for conviction.
What two elements must be present to establish guilt in Canada's legal system? - Answers Actus reus
(guilty act) and mens rea (guilty mind)
What is the definition of 'fitness to stand trial'? - Answers A defendant's ability to understand the
charges and conduct a defense at any stage of the proceedings.
What case established the first criteria for fitness to stand trial in Canada? - Answers R. v. Prichard
(1836)
What are the three criteria for determining fitness to stand trial as per R. v. Prichard? - Answers 1.
Ability to communicate, 2. Ability to plead to the indictment, 3. Sufficient cognitive capacity to
understand the trial.
What does Bill C-30 (1992) outline regarding fitness to stand trial? - Answers A defendant is unfit if
unable to understand the nature of the proceedings, the consequences, or communicate with
counsel.
What is the maximum detention period for a defendant undergoing a fitness assessment under Bill C-
30? - Answers 60 days, with a possible extension.
What did R. v. Taylor (1992) clarify regarding communication with counsel? - Answers Defendants
only need to state basic facts related to the offense, not determine the best defense.
How many defendants are referred for fitness evaluations annually in Canada? - Answers
Approximately 5,000.
What is the Fitness Interview Test Revised (FIT-R)? - Answers A semi-structured interview assessing
psychological abilities outlined in Bill C-30.
What types of mental disorders can render a person unfit to stand trial? - Answers Psychotic
disorders with active psychosis, cognitive impairments, severe brain injuries, and dementia.
Which conditions do NOT render a person unfit to stand trial? - Answers Amnesia, selective mutism,
language/hearing limitations, mild intellectual disabilities, anxiety, personality disorders.
What is the Competency Screening Test (CST)? - Answers A test assessing understanding of court
proceedings, relationship with a lawyer, and emotional stability.
What is the purpose of the Competency to Stand Trial Assessment Instrument (CAI)? - Answers To
complement the CST with a semi-structured interview.
What demographics are commonly associated with unfit offenders? - Answers Unemployed, living
alone, currently single, and older minority-group females.
How much more likely are unfit offenders to have a psychotic disorder compared to fit offenders? -
Answers 4 times more likely.
What is the first approach to restoring fitness in unfit defendants? - Answers Treating the underlying
mental illness with medication.
What happens if a defendant is found unfit for more than 90 days? - Answers They are referred to a
review board for assessment.
What are the two main types of judicial systems? - Answers Adversarial systems and inquisitorial
systems.
What is the primary function of a jury? - Answers To apply the law to admissible evidence and render
a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
What is the difference between civil and criminal juries in Canada? - Answers Civil juries have 6-8
members and use the balance of probabilities; criminal juries have 12 members and use beyond a
reasonable doubt.
What is a summary offence? - Answers A minor offence processed by provincial court, such as breach
of probation.
What is an indictable offence? - Answers A serious offence that can be tried by a judge only, a judge
and jury, or at the accused's choice.
What is a hybrid offence? - Answers An offence that can be prosecuted as either a summary or
indictable offence.
What is the jury selection process in Canada governed by? - Answers The Juries Act.
What are the eligibility criteria for jury duty in Canada? - Answers Must be a Canadian citizen, live in
the province, and be at least 18 years old.
What is a preemptory challenge? - Answers A challenge to a juror without cause, allowing a lawyer to
veto a juror based on a 'gut check.'
What is a challenge for cause? - Answers A challenge based on specific reasons related to a juror's
ability to be impartial.
What are the qualities that juries must possess? - Answers Representativeness and impartiality.
What are some threats to jury impartiality? - Answers Pre-trial publicity, biases, and prejudices.
What is one method to mitigate threats to jury impartiality? - Answers Change of venue.
What are the four methodologies used to study jury behaviour? - Answers Post-trial interviews,
archival records, field studies, and simulations.
Why are post-trial interviews not possible in Canada? - Answers Jurors are forbidden by law from
disclosing the content of deliberations.
What is the strength of using archival records in jury studies? - Answers High external validity.
What is a limitation of field studies in jury research? - Answers Permission from courts may be
difficult to obtain.
What is the purpose of note-taking for jurors? - Answers To facilitate memory and comprehension.
What is the role of the judge in the jury trial process? - Answers To make decisions within each trial
and instruct juries on disregarding inadmissible evidence.
What is the significance of the R. v. Stanley case in jury selection? - Answers It involved the use of
preemptory challenges, which were eliminated by Bill C-75 in 2019.
What does 'disregarding inadmissible evidence' mean for jurors? - Answers Jurors are instructed to
ignore statements or evidence that should not be considered in their deliberations.
What is the financial compensation for jury duty in Ontario after 50 days? - Answers $100 per day.
What effect do jurors experience when told to disregard evidence? - Answers Backfire effect: Jurors
pay more attention to evidence after being told to disregard it.
What type of trial did Kassin & Sommers (1997) conduct? - Answers A mock murder trial.
What are the experimental conditions in Kassin & Sommers' study? - Answers Control (no wiretap),
Admissible (evidence admitted), Disregard (difficult to comprehend), Disregard (illegally obtained).
What is a major issue with jurors' understanding of judges' instructions? - Answers Jurors do not
remember, understand, or accurately apply instructions.
What reforms can improve judges' instructions? - Answers Rewriting instructions, providing written
copies, pre- and post-evidence instructions, and lawyers clarifying instructions.
What is the purpose of the Vetrovec warning? - Answers To caution jurors about the credibility of
certain witnesses, such as accomplices or jailhouse informants.
What are the three criteria for evaluating stories in juror decision-making? - Answers Coverage,
Coherence, Uniqueness.
What demographic factors can influence juror decision-making? - Answers Gender, race, age,
socioeconomic status, and education level.
How do women jurors generally differ in their verdicts compared to men? - Answers Women jurors
tend to be less punitive.
, What did Anwar et al. (2017) find regarding the inclusion of women jurors? - Answers Inclusion had
little effect on conviction rates overall but impacted rates for female-salient offenses.
What is the Black sheep effect in relation to race and juror decision-making? - Answers When
evidence is weak, race similarity leads to leniency; when evidence is strong, it leads to punitiveness.
What personality traits are associated with juror decision-making? - Answers Authoritarianism and
Dogmatism, with rigid thinking and closed-mindedness.
What relationship did Devine & Laughlin (2014) find between authoritarianism and guilt judgments? -
Answers A positive relationship; higher authoritarianism correlates with higher guilt judgments.
What is the CSI effect? - Answers The phenomenon where jurors expect scientific evidence due to
watching crime-related shows, leading to acquittals when such evidence is absent.
How does the presence of a defendant's attractiveness influence juror verdicts? - Answers There is a
small relationship between attractiveness and verdict outcomes.
What impact do victim characteristics have in sexual assault cases? - Answers Victim's sexual history
can influence jurors' perceptions of credibility and blameworthiness.
What did Schuller & Hastings (2002) find regarding mock jurors and sexual history evidence? -
Answers Jurors exposed to sexual history were less likely to find the victim credible and more likely to
find the defendant not guilty.
What is the role of attitudes in juror decision-making? - Answers Attitudes towards various issues can
influence juror decisions, but few attitudes have been sufficiently investigated.
What is the relationship between death-qualified jurors and conviction rates? - Answers Death-
qualified jurors are more likely to vote for conviction.
What two elements must be present to establish guilt in Canada's legal system? - Answers Actus reus
(guilty act) and mens rea (guilty mind)
What is the definition of 'fitness to stand trial'? - Answers A defendant's ability to understand the
charges and conduct a defense at any stage of the proceedings.
What case established the first criteria for fitness to stand trial in Canada? - Answers R. v. Prichard
(1836)
What are the three criteria for determining fitness to stand trial as per R. v. Prichard? - Answers 1.
Ability to communicate, 2. Ability to plead to the indictment, 3. Sufficient cognitive capacity to
understand the trial.
What does Bill C-30 (1992) outline regarding fitness to stand trial? - Answers A defendant is unfit if
unable to understand the nature of the proceedings, the consequences, or communicate with
counsel.
What is the maximum detention period for a defendant undergoing a fitness assessment under Bill C-
30? - Answers 60 days, with a possible extension.
What did R. v. Taylor (1992) clarify regarding communication with counsel? - Answers Defendants
only need to state basic facts related to the offense, not determine the best defense.
How many defendants are referred for fitness evaluations annually in Canada? - Answers
Approximately 5,000.
What is the Fitness Interview Test Revised (FIT-R)? - Answers A semi-structured interview assessing
psychological abilities outlined in Bill C-30.
What types of mental disorders can render a person unfit to stand trial? - Answers Psychotic
disorders with active psychosis, cognitive impairments, severe brain injuries, and dementia.
Which conditions do NOT render a person unfit to stand trial? - Answers Amnesia, selective mutism,
language/hearing limitations, mild intellectual disabilities, anxiety, personality disorders.
What is the Competency Screening Test (CST)? - Answers A test assessing understanding of court
proceedings, relationship with a lawyer, and emotional stability.
What is the purpose of the Competency to Stand Trial Assessment Instrument (CAI)? - Answers To
complement the CST with a semi-structured interview.
What demographics are commonly associated with unfit offenders? - Answers Unemployed, living
alone, currently single, and older minority-group females.
How much more likely are unfit offenders to have a psychotic disorder compared to fit offenders? -
Answers 4 times more likely.
What is the first approach to restoring fitness in unfit defendants? - Answers Treating the underlying
mental illness with medication.
What happens if a defendant is found unfit for more than 90 days? - Answers They are referred to a
review board for assessment.
