Abstract
Focus groups (FGs) led by trial consultants are popular in the USA but not in Japan. Additionally, the effectiveness of this method has not been examined. This study examined the effect of FGs on the Saiban-in system. First, eleven undergraduates participated in FGs, discussing the perception of certain words (e.g., self-defense) and a theme (e.g., how to evaluate a wrongful act when losing self-control because of fear) that were points of dispute in a simulated case. The contents were compared with three law students' estimation of how undergraduates perceived these topics. Second, a law student wrote a final case argument before and after reading a summary produced by FGs. Third, another set of thirty-one undergraduates participated in one of two conditions (whether based on an FG result or not), read the arguments (sixteen read arguments not based on an FG result; fifteen read arguments based on one), judged the case, reported their confidence in the judgment, and marked the words that affected them. The effect of the FG on the conviction rate was not significant. However, confidence in the not-guilty verdict increased and participants were influenced by the final arguments based on the FG result. This indicates the efficacy of focus groups in writing a final argument mentioned in the deliberation.
| Original language | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 133-141 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Research in Social Psychology |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 Jan 1 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
Cite this
An examination of the effect of focus groups for Saiban-in system. / Arakawa, Ayumu; Sugawara, Ikuo.
In: Research in Social Psychology, Vol. 34, No. 3, 01.01.2018, p. 133-141.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An examination of the effect of focus groups for Saiban-in system
AU - Arakawa, Ayumu
AU - Sugawara, Ikuo
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Focus groups (FGs) led by trial consultants are popular in the USA but not in Japan. Additionally, the effectiveness of this method has not been examined. This study examined the effect of FGs on the Saiban-in system. First, eleven undergraduates participated in FGs, discussing the perception of certain words (e.g., self-defense) and a theme (e.g., how to evaluate a wrongful act when losing self-control because of fear) that were points of dispute in a simulated case. The contents were compared with three law students' estimation of how undergraduates perceived these topics. Second, a law student wrote a final case argument before and after reading a summary produced by FGs. Third, another set of thirty-one undergraduates participated in one of two conditions (whether based on an FG result or not), read the arguments (sixteen read arguments not based on an FG result; fifteen read arguments based on one), judged the case, reported their confidence in the judgment, and marked the words that affected them. The effect of the FG on the conviction rate was not significant. However, confidence in the not-guilty verdict increased and participants were influenced by the final arguments based on the FG result. This indicates the efficacy of focus groups in writing a final argument mentioned in the deliberation.
AB - Focus groups (FGs) led by trial consultants are popular in the USA but not in Japan. Additionally, the effectiveness of this method has not been examined. This study examined the effect of FGs on the Saiban-in system. First, eleven undergraduates participated in FGs, discussing the perception of certain words (e.g., self-defense) and a theme (e.g., how to evaluate a wrongful act when losing self-control because of fear) that were points of dispute in a simulated case. The contents were compared with three law students' estimation of how undergraduates perceived these topics. Second, a law student wrote a final case argument before and after reading a summary produced by FGs. Third, another set of thirty-one undergraduates participated in one of two conditions (whether based on an FG result or not), read the arguments (sixteen read arguments not based on an FG result; fifteen read arguments based on one), judged the case, reported their confidence in the judgment, and marked the words that affected them. The effect of the FG on the conviction rate was not significant. However, confidence in the not-guilty verdict increased and participants were influenced by the final arguments based on the FG result. This indicates the efficacy of focus groups in writing a final argument mentioned in the deliberation.
KW - Focus group
KW - Jury research
KW - Law and Psychology
KW - Perspective taking
KW - Saiban-in system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068036334&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068036334&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.14966/jssp.1735
DO - 10.14966/jssp.1735
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85068036334
VL - 34
SP - 133
EP - 141
JO - Research in Social Psychology
JF - Research in Social Psychology
SN - 0916-1503
IS - 3
ER -