Publications [#298776] of Neil Vidmar

Journal Articles

1. Vidmar, N; Sheppard, B (1980). Adversary Pretrial Procedures and Testimonial Evidence: Effects of Lawyer's Role and Machavellianism. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 39(2), 320-332. [doi]
   (last updated on 2023/06/01)

   Abstract:
   Examined in 2 studies the relative fact-finding efficacy of 2 legal procedural systems: adversary and nonadversary. 206 undergraduates played the roles of lawyers or witnesses in a simulation of the pretrial processes. The witnesses saw a fight, were subsequently interviewed by an adversary or nonadversary lawyer, and testified 1 wk later about the incident. Results support the prediction that witnesses interviewed by adversary lawyers would bias their testimony in favor of the lawyer's client, although lawyer Machiavellianism served as an important moderating variable. The bias transmitted in oral testimony had an influence on the impressions of the factual evidence and responsibility judgments of naive adjudicators, indicating a 3rd-order (lawyer to witness to adjudicator) role-playing effect. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1980 American Psychological Association.