Observations & Inferences
What two things do you need to create an inference?
Previous knowledge + observation = inference
Physical things you collect information from at a crime scene
Evidence
What is the least common fingerprint type?
Arch (5% of people)
True/False: Our handwriting styles are like our fingerprints
True
This pattern has lots of circles that do not leave either side of the print.
What is the Whorl pattern
What is a quantitative observation?
An observation of numbers or amounts
A story or interpretation based on evidence
An Inference
What are the 3 types of fingerprints?
Loop, whorl, arch
This could be left by a criminal at the crime scene
A ransom note
The three basic patterns of fingerprints.
Arch, loop and whorl
What is a qualitative observation?
Using your 5 senses to make an observation.
Manipulated variable in our experiment on types of surfaces and fingerprints.
What is a latent print?
An invisible print that has to be powdered and lifted to be seen. Usually made out of hand oils or sweat
Three things that can be used for identifying people's handwriting.
line quality, spacing, ratio of height, width, and size, pen lifts and separations, connecting strokes, beginning and ending strokes, unusual letter formation, pen pressure, slant, baseline habits, flourishes or embellishments, placement of letter markings (t's i's, etc)
A feature of a fingerprint that makes a triangular shape.
A delta
True or false: all inferences are true
False
What kind of evidence is a scrap of fabric?
Physical evidence
True or false: there are no other animals with similar fingerprints to humans
FALSE! Koalas have fingerprints indistinguishable from humans. WOOOOW
You should look at the spacing between these two things when analyzing.
Words and letters
The substance that is left behind when you touch something
How do inferences and observations help investigators?
They allow them to track what has happened at a crime scene, and can lead them to the correct suspect
The variables in an experiment that are kept the same
Controlled variables
List the types of fingerprints in order from most common to least common
The technical term for analyzing handwriting
Graphology
Like fingerprint patterns, this specific characteristic has a ridge split into two.
bifurcation (fork)