Research Labs - [ Forensic Psychology Lab]

What is forensic psychology?
Forensic psychology is a specialty area within psychology that combines clinical psychology and legal issues. In addition, forensic psychology is informed by theory and research from social psychology, developmental psychology, sociology, criminology, and other fields.

Research conducted in the Forensic Psychology Research Lab
Most research in the lab relates to one of three forensic psychology topics: (1) causes and prevention of reactive aggression; (2) accuracy of psychological profiles of violent offenders; and (3) juror and jury decisions in violent crime cases.

Some research in the lab relates to other areas, including (1) characteristics of the children of incarcerated parents, (2) the neuropsychology of aggression, (3) personality disorders, and (4) risky behaviors (including risky sexual behaviors and drug use and abuse).

Benefits of being a Research Assistant
Undergraduate and graduate students can become research assistants in the Forensic Psychology Research Lab. Although the experience of being a research assistant (RA) varies from person to person, the potential benefits of being an RA include:

Work one-on-one with a professor. This can form the basis for letters of recommendation.
Prepare for graduate school (make decisions about graduate school).
Learn more about forensic psychology, neuropsychology, and/or other areas of clinical psychology.
Enhance critical-thinking skills and problem solving ability.
Participate in the research process from beginning to end.
Design and conduct your own research project.
Gain enthusiasm about research.
Improve writing skills.
Practice conducting literature reviews.
Learn to analyze research data.
Improve ability to work independently.
Enhance ability to develop clear research ideas.
Apply ethical principles to research situations.
Improve teamwork and leadership skills.
Improve communication skills.
Attend professional psychology conferences, learn about research being conducted at other universities, and meet students and psychologists from different universities and agencies.
Learn to present research at a conference.

Requirements for becoming a Research Assistant
RA's are provided with thorough training, guidance, and supervision, so previous research experience is not necessary. Instead, an enthusiasm for psychology and a desire to learn more about research are the most important qualities. Other desirable qualities for RA's include responsibility, good interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and honest and ethical behavior. In addition, RA's should be prepared to work 10 hours per week in the lab (other than the weekly lab meeting, these hours are flexible) for at least two semesters.

Students who are interested in becoming a research assistant in Dr. Jacquin's Forensic Research Lab should contact her directly at kmj8@psychology.msstate.edu. She can answer any questions and/or can send more information and an RA application.

Conference Presentations by Research Assistants
Research assistants have made numerous conference presentations over the past several years. The following list shows RA presentations or co-presentations (RA names are in bold) from 2005-2008.

Jacquin, K. M., Yonge, K. C., & Richardson, R. (2008, August). Training enhances psychological profile accuracy for sexual homicide. Paper accepted for presentation at the 115th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

Brown, M., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). Victim and defendant attractiveness and ethnicity influence rape trial verdicts. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Dallas, R., Yonge, K. C., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). Neuropsychological deficits associated with borderline and antisocial personality characteristics. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Davis, B. S., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). Non-prescription psychostimulant use in college students. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Garniss, G., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). Jury deliberation and victim gender influence sexual abuse trial verdicts. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Jacquin, K. M., Stewart, D., Koonce, P. C., & Osborne, B. (2008, March). Effects of a rape victim's substance intoxication on juror perceptions. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Kaderabek, K., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). Terrorist connections, ethnicity, and military history influence homicide trial decisions. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Leachman, L., Switzer, L., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). Does early substance use predict risky sexual behaviors? Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Murray, B., Ratliff Burrell, E., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). A child sexual abuse defendant's diagnosis impacts juror decisions. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Yonge, K. C., Dallas, R., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008, March). Logical analysis skills enhance the accuracy of criminal profilers. Poster accepted for presentation at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Charlotte, NC.

Jacquin, K. M., & Stewart, D. N. (2007, August). Juror perceptions of the distinction between consensual sex and rape. Paper presented at the 114th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

Dallas, R. H., Clark, K. N., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Juror perceptions of child eyewitnesses in a sexual abuse case. Poster presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Fulton, J. J., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Bias in same-gender and opposite-gender sexual harassment trials. Poster presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Hatchett, E. S., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Using the Personality Assessment Inventory to predict neuropsychological test performance. Paper presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Jacquin, K. M., & Bourne, J. N. (2007, February). Juror perceptions of when consensual sexual contact becomes rape. Paper presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Kyzer, K. E., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Victim diagnosis influences juror decisions in a rape trial. Poster presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Leachman, L. L., Switzer, L., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Early maladaptive schemas predict risky sexual behaviors. Poster presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Ratliff, E. O., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Gender and attitudes toward homosexuality bias child abuse trial jurors. Poster presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Tollison, W. L., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Non-prescription use of psychostimulants in college students. Poster given as CEPO presentation at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Yonge, K. C., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007, February). Criminal knowledge enhances psychological profiling accuracy for sexual homicide. Poster presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

Wright, M., & Jacquin, K. M. (2006, February). The importance of prior knowledge on the accuracy of psychological profiling of sexual homicide offenders. Poster presented at the annual convention of the Mississippi Psychological Association, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Jacquin, K. M., & Hodges, E. P. (2005, August). Psychological knowledge influences the accuracy of sexual homicide offense profiles. Paper presented at the 113th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Jacquin, K. M., & Turner, T. R. (2005, August). Homicide defendants' social and economic status independently influence jury decisions. Paper presented at the 113th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Jacquin, K. M., & Burden, K. A. (2005, May). Victim and defendant sexual orientation biases jurors in a same-sex rape trial. Poster presented at the 17th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Society, Los Angeles, California.

Compton, K., Tumbling, S. D., Wood, J., & Jacquin, K. M. (2005, April). Jury decision making in a rape trial: The influence of the victim's alcohol consumption and sexual contact with the defendant. Poster presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, Tennessee.

Daniels, A., Sumners, C., & Jacquin, K. M. (2005, April). The influence of defendant sexual orientation on jury decision making in a child sexual abuse trial. Poster presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, Tennessee.

Landry, D., Jacquin, K. M., & Rachal, C. (2005, April). Personality Assessment Inventory as a predictor of neuropsychological test performance. Poster presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, Tennessee.

Tumbling, S. D., & Jacquin, K. M. (2005, April). Gender and ethnicity influence aggressive behavior and the acceptance of violence. Poster presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, Tennessee.

Jacquin, K. M., & Wright, M. (2005, April). Maladaptive schemas predict personality disorder characteristics. Paper presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, Tennessee.

Research Publications by RA's in the Forensic Research Lab
Several RA's have co-authored journal articles or book chapters with Dr. Jacquin. The following list shows RA articles and chapters that have been published or accepted for publication in the past year. RA names are in bold.

Hodges, E. P., & Jacquin, K. M. (2008). Psychological skills and criminal profile accuracy. In R. N. Kocsis (Ed.), Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes (pp. 259-275). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.

Holcomb, M., & Jacquin, K. M. (2007). Juror perceptions of child eyewitness testimony in a sexual abuse trial. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 16(2), 79-95.

Jacquin, K. M., Harrison, M. L., & Alford, S. M. (2006). Gender and peer presence influence responses to aggressive provocation. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 24(3), 29-44.

Jacquin, K. M., & Hodges, E. P. (2007). The influence of media messages on mock juror decisions in the Andrea Yates trial. American Journal of Forensic Psychology, 25(4), 21-40.