Forensic anthropology : theoretical framework and scientific basis / edited by Clifford Boyd Jr, Donna Boyd.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Boyd, C. Clifford, Jr., 1952-2021, editor.

Boyd, Donna, 1960- editor.

Series:

Forensic science in focus.

Forensic Science in Focus

Standardized Title:

Forensic anthropology (Boyd)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Forensic anthropology--Methodology.

Forensic anthropology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (334 pages).

Edition:

1st edition

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley, 2018.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

Provides comprehensive coverage of everything that students and practitioners need to know about working in the field of forensic anthropology Forensic anthropology has been plagued by questions of scientific validity and rigor despite its acceptance as a section in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences nearly half a century ago. Critics have viewed it as a laboratory-based applied subfield of biological anthropology, and characterised it as emphasising methodology over theory. This book shows that these views are not only antiquated, but inadequate and inaccurate. Forensic Anthropology: Theoretical Framework and Scientific Basis introduces readers to all of the theoretical and scientific foundations of forensic anthropology — beginning with how it was influenced by the early theoretical approaches of Tyler, Morgan, Spencer and Darwin. It instructs on how modern forensic science relies on an interdisciplinary approach — with research being conducted in the fields of archaeology, physics, geology and other disciplines. This modern approach to theory in forensic anthropology is presented through the introduction and discussion of Foundational, Interpretive and Methodological theories. Sections cover: Bias and Objectivity in Forensic Anthropology Theory and Practice; The Theory and Science Behind Biological Profile and Personal Identification; Scientific Foundation for Interpretations of Antemortem, Perimortem, and Postmortem Processes; and Interdisciplinary Influences, Legal Ramifications and Future Directions. Illustrates important aspects of the theory building process and reflects methods for strengthening the scientific framework of forensic anthropology as a discipline Inspired by the “Application of Theory to Forensic Anthropology” symposium presented at the 67th annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Chapters written by experts in the field who were presenters at the symposium Forensic Anthropology: Theoretical Framework and Scientific Basis is ideal for university courses in anthropological science, forensic science, criminal science and forensic archaeology.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

About the Editors

Notes on contributors

Foreword

Series preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1 The theoretical and scientific foundations of forensic anthropology

1.1 Introduction

1.2 A selective history of theory in forensic anthropology

1.3 A modern perspective on forensic anthropology theory

1.3.1 Three forms of logical reasoning

1.3.2 Theory building in forensic anthropology: Linking logic and theory

1.4 Forensic anthropology theory and modern practice

1.5 Final comments

References

Part 1 Bias and objectivity in forensic anthropology theory and practice

Chapter 2 Subjective with a capital S? Issues of objectivity in forensic anthropology

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Objectivity, subjectivity, and forensic anthropological theory

2.3 Subjectivity in science

2.3.1 Subjectivity in forensic anthropology

2.3.2 Effects of bias on forensic anthropology

2.3.3 Subjective science is not bad science

2.4 Mitigated objectivity: A path forward…

2.4.1 Constraining subjectivity and bias

2.4.2 The continuing process of constraint

2.5 Conclusion

Chapter 3 Navigating cognitive bias in forensic anthropology

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Types of cognitive bias

3.3 Research versus applied science

3.4 Recommended solutions to mitigate confirmation bias

3.5 Challenges unique to forensic anthropology

3.5.1 Anthropologists work in a variety of professional contexts

3.5.2 The uniqueness of the forensic anthropology testing sample

3.5.3 Multiple tests to reach a single conclusion

3.6 An example of how bias affects procedures

3.7 Workable solutions

3.8 Summary

Chapter 4 Theoretically interesting: Different perspectives of the application of theory to forensic anthropology practice and research.

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Practising in context

4.3 Ethical considerations for the development of theory

4.4 Can theories be applied universally?

4.5 Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Part 2 The theory and science behind biological profile and personal identification

Chapter 5 From Blumenbach to Howells: The slow, painful emergence of theory through forensic race estimation

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Race as a concept and theory

5.2.1 Evolution, rather than race, explains human biological variation

5.2.2 Human variation is continuous

5.2.3 Human biological variation involves many traits that typically vary independently

5.2.4 Genetic variation within so-called races is much greater than the variation among them

5.2.5 There is no way to consistently classify human beings by race

5.3 Anthropology and race

5.4 Forensic anthropology and race

5.5 Race and the future

Chapter 6 The application of theory in skeletal age estimation

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Skeletal age

6.3 Historical context

6.4 Forensic anthropology and evolutionary biology

6.5 Potential solutions to the problem of age estimation

6.6 Final comments

Chapter 7 Theory and histological methods

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Foundational theory in bone biology

7.3 Interpretive theory in bone biology

7.3.1 Form and function

7.3.2 The mechanostat and Utah paradigm

7.3.3 Exploring the effectors of the mechanostat

7.4 Methodological theory in bone biology

7.4.1 Histological age estimation

7.4.2 Determining human versus nonhuman bone

7.5 Conclusions

Chapter 8 Forensic applications of isotope landscapes ("isoscapes"): A tool for predicting region-of-origin in forensic anthropology cases

8.1 Introduction

8.2 What are isotopes?.

8.3 Why do isotope compositions of human tissues differ?

8.3.1 Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes

8.3.2 Strontium isotopes

8.3.3 Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur isotopes

8.4 How do we interpret isotope data collected for forensic human identification?

8.4.1 Oxygen isotopes in drinking water and hair keratin

8.4.2 Oxygen isotopes in drinking water and skeletal bioapatite

8.4.3 Strontium isotopes of local bedrock and skeletal remains

8.5 Examples of the application of isotope analysis to unidentified remains

8.5.1 Jane Doe from Salt Lake County

8.5.2 Mandible from Siskiyou County

8.6 What are the future applications of isotope analysis?

Part 3 Scientific foundation for interpretations of antemortem, perimortem, and postmortem processes

Chapter 9 The anatomical basis for fracture repair: Recognition of the healing continuum and its forensic applications to investigations of pediatric and elderly abuse

9.1 Introduction: Diagnosing pediatric and elderly non‐accidental injury

9.2 Theoretical basis for fracture healing and TSI estimation

9.3 Anatomical basis for fracture healing

9.3.1 Bone growth and development

9.3.2 Fracture healing

9.4 Factors affecting the rate of bone healing

9.4.1 The biological profile (age, sex, ancestry)

9.4.2 Type, location, cause, severity, and number of injuries

9.4.3 Injury treatment and local biomechanical factors

9.4.4 Systemic and other factors

9.5 Fracture healing stages and dating systems

9.6 A new model for fracture repair

9.7 Expanding and refining TSI estimation through the Antemortem Fracture Archive

9.8 Theory and the future of TSI estimation

Appendix A: Major fracture repair stages and TSI estimations

Chapter 10 Theoretical foundation of child abuse

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Case study.

10.3 Anthropologists and child abuse

10.4 Foundational theory

10.5 Interpretive theory

10.5.1 Bone biomechanics

10.5.2 Motor skill development

10.6 Methodological theory

10.7 Conclusion

Chapter 11 Bone trauma analysis in a forensic setting: Theoretical basis and a practical approach for evaluation

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Theory

11.2.1 Foundational theory

11.2.2 Interpretive theory

11.2.3 Methodological theory

11.3 Fundamental principles in bone fracture interpretation

11.4 A practical approach to bone trauma evaluation and hypothesis building

11.5 Conclusion

Chapter 12 Thinking outside the box: Theory and innovation in sharp trauma analysis

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Transfer of evidence

12.3 Theory connections

12.4 The human skeleton as transfer evidence

12.5 A primer on saws and dismemberment

12.6 Geographic information system

12.7 Applications of GIS in forensic anthropology and human osteology

12.8 GIS: innovation in cut mark striation interpretation

12.9 Locard and the twenty-first century: It's all a matter of scale

Chapter 13 The forensic anthropologist as broker for cross-disciplinary taphonomic research related to estimating the postmortem interval in medicolegal death investigations

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Taphonomy and taphonomic theory

13.3 Forensic taphonomy

13.4 Taphonomy and the estimation of time since death

13.5 The necrobiome

13.6 Cross-disciplinary research

13.6.1 Need for cross-disciplinary research in PMI estimation

13.6.2 Cross-disciplinary approaches

13.7 Overcoming barriers to cross-disciplinary research

13.8 Forensic anthropologists as brokers for unified theories in forensic taphonomy

13.8.1 Forensic anthropologists are already major players.

13.8.2 Anthropologists have a long history of conducting taphonomic research

13.8.3 Anthropology is traditionally a holistic field

13.8.4 Forensic anthropology has its roots in academic research

13.9 Conclusions

Part 4 Interdisciplinary influences, legal ramifications, and future directions

Chapter 14 Archaeological inference and its application to forensic anthropology

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Agency and nonlinear systems theories

14.3 Nonlinear modeling of the decomposition process

14.4 Discussion

Chapter 15 Arrows of influence: The give and take of theory between forensic anthropology, archaeology, and geophysics

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Influences of archaeology on forensic anthropology

15.3 Influences of geophysics on forensic anthropology

15.4 "Backflow" to other disciplines: Site formation processes in archaeology

15.5 Backflow: Interpretation/understanding of geophysical signatures

15.6 Conclusion

Chapter 16 Forensic anthropology, scientific evidence, and the law: Why theory matters

16.1 Introduction: Theory in practice

16.1.1 Commonwealth of Virginia v Lockett: Why theory matters

16.2 Science and the law: The disconnect

16.3 Science and the law: Commonalities

16.3.1 Legal and scientific dialogue

16.3.2 Abductive reasoning

16.3.3 Probabilistic evaluation of the strength of evidence

16.4 Forensic anthropologists as expert witnesses

16.5 Admissibility of forensic anthropology evidence in the post‐Daubert world

16.6 The legal application of forensic anthropology: Why theory matters

16.7 Final comments

Chapter 17 Epilogue: Theory and science in forensic anthropology: Avenues for further research and development

17.1 The science of forensic anthropology.

17.2 Looking forward.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-119-22640-6

1-119-22652-X

OCLC:

1004376537