LSP Forensic Psychology & Legal Issues 5

Question 1

A forensic evaluator discovers mid-evaluation that a defendant has been coached on how to respond. The evaluator's best course of action is to:

Accepted Answer

Document the coaching attempt and address it in the report, noting its potential impact on validity

Answer

Coaching affects the validity of findings and must be documented and addressed in the forensic report so the court can weigh its impact on the results.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a static risk factor for sexual recidivism?

Accepted Answer

Age at first sexual offense

Answer

Static risk factors are historical and unchangeable; age at first sexual offense is a fixed historical variable that predicts recidivism risk.

Question 3

In the context of expert testimony, what does 'reasonable degree of psychological certainty' typically mean?

Accepted Answer

The opinion is more likely true than not (more probable than not)

Answer

Reasonable degree of psychological certainty generally equates to the civil standard of more probable than not, not the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.

Question 4

A child discloses sexual abuse during a forensic interview. Which interview protocol is considered the gold standard for minimizing suggestibility?

Accepted Answer

NICHD Protocol

Answer

The NICHD Protocol is an empirically validated forensic interview approach designed to elicit accurate, reliable disclosures from children while minimizing suggestibility.

Question 5

A defendant claims he did not know right from wrong at the time of the offense due to a severe mental illness. Which insanity standard does this reflect?

Accepted Answer

M'Naghten standard

Answer

The M'Naghten standard focuses on whether, due to a mental disease, the defendant did not know the nature of the act or did not know it was wrong.

(LSP) Licensed Specialist in Psychology Certification Practice Test

(LSP) Licensed Specialist in Psychology Certification Practice Test

LSP Forensic Psychology & Legal Issues 5