What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to investigate whether shifting focus from suspects to evidence reduces confirmation bias in police investigations.

January 18, 2026

What happened and what proves you wrong? Combatting confirmation bias in police investigations through evidence reconstruction and falsification.

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Authors

SLSarah LenzUniversity of Amsterdam TZTara ZohrevandUniversity of Amsterdam EREric RassinErasmus University Rotterdam

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Implication

This online study examines how evidence-focused investigation can reduce confirmation bias among police officers, suggesting implications for future practices.

Key Points

This research aims to investigate whether shifting focus from suspects to evidence reduces confirmation bias in police investigations.
Conducted a 2x2 factorial online study with current and future German police officers
Utilized real wrongful conviction case from the Netherlands for analysis
Manipulated focus on evidence versus suspects and strategies of verification versus falsification
Measured accuracy of guilt ratings and proposed investigative steps
Manipulations had no significant effect on guilt ratings for the innocent suspect
Evidence focus increased likelihood of proposing more evidence-based investigative steps
Falsification focus promoted more falsification-oriented next investigative steps
Indicated a broader shift in investigative mindset toward objective reasoning

Cite This Study

Lenz et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/696c7791eb60fb80d1395cbb https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327036

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Implication

This online study examines how evidence-focused investigation can reduce confirmation bias among police officers, suggesting implications for future practices.

What happened and what proves you wrong? Combatting confirmation bias in police investigations through evidence reconstruction and falsification.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

What happened and what proves you wrong? Combatting confirmation bias in police investigations through evidence reconstruction and falsification.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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