8127/frame/fm

part of 
 
forensic science
is what instigates so
much consternation. Why should this be? Perhaps a partial answer may be
found in modern society’s perception of science. Science is believed by the
average person to offer hard facts, definite conclusions, and uncompromised
objectivity. Therefore, any discipline called a science gains a certain legitimacy
and credibility in society’s (the judge’s? the jury’s?) view. Conversely, other
8127/frame/ch01 Page 4 Friday, July 21, 2000 11:32 AM

---

Introduction
5
professions (some of which are, interestingly, called the “soft sciences” by
academicians) perceive themselves to lose credibility and worth if they are
somehow excluded from designation as a science. This unfortunate view only
detracts from the unique and useful contributions that experts in many
diverse fields may offer a case investigation.
 
2.
The Science in Forensic Science
Science is an oft-misused term, frequently employed to lend credibility to an
idea or statement as if the aura of science automatically confers trustworthi-
ness. (It’s scientific, it must be true.) Just as often, it is used to discredit a
concept, as if ideas outside the realm of science have no merit. (It’s not
scientific, we can’t trust it.) The reality lies in understanding that science is
a process not a truth. Laboratory scientists engaged in research or develop-
ment in the natural sciences will recognize the following assertions.
 
a.
What Is Science?
Science is the method of study we use in our attempts to understand and
describe the physical universe. We do this by identifying repeating patterns,
either spatial or temporal, and using the pattern data to try to establish
general rules. This is called inductive reasoning — extrapolating from the
specific to the general. If we think we have established a general principle,
we attempt to test that principle by predicting what will happen in a specific
situation. This is an example of deductive reasoning. The scientist obtains
qualitative data by observation and quantitative data by measurement, all in
the attempt to understand and categorize the universe. Although the quan-
titative description of data increasingly dominates our view of science, in no
small part due to advances in measuring instruments, it is important to
understand that both qualitative and quantitative descriptions of data are
useful tools — it all depends on the question (Houck, 1999).
Classical science is defined by the notion of hypothesis testing. In very
simple terms, the scientist proposes a hypothesis, performs experiments to
test the hypothesis, and obtains results that either tend to confirm or inval-
idate the hypothesis. To classify an endeavor as science, one must be able not
only to state a hypothesis, but to imagine a way to test the hypothesis (Popper,
1962). The