Verdict,Sentencing,and Certainty as a Function of Sex of Juror and Amount of Evidence in a Simulated Rape Trial

Abstract

The purpose was to investigate the relationship between sex of juror and amount of evidence to verdict, sentencing, and certainty in a simulated rape trial. Subjects were 118 female and 109 male college students. Analyses indicate, even under conditions of strong evidence, men are less likely to find the defendant guilty and prescribe shorter sentences than women. Women, under the conditions of moderate evidence, were more likely than men to find the defendant guilty. The results also suggest that certitude and severity of sentence are driven by the verdict reached rather than by gender. The findings are compared with those of other studies and discussed in terms of the ideation of men and women, environment and subjects' characteristics, and mode of presentation in a simulated rape trial.