
Daubert Standard
The Daubert Standard
When preparing for a Daubert Hearing, familiarize yourself with the following articles and related information. The four numbered items are the factors the Court suggested be used in determining whether expert evidence is scientifically valid and thus admissible as evidence, and the bulleted points are the suggested responses.
1. Is the underlying theory or technique (methodology or reasoning) at issue empirically testable, and has it been tested? (The following all found validity)
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Abel, G.G., Wiegel, M. (2009). Visual Reaction Time & Development, Theory, Empirical Evidence, and Beyond. Sex Offenders: Identification, Risk Assessment, Treatment and Legal Issues. Oxford University Press, pp. 101-118.
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Brown, M., Amoroso, D.M., Ware, E.E Pruesse, M., Pilkey, D.W. (1973). Factors affecting viewing time of pornography. Journal of Social Psychology, 90, 125-135.
Harris, G.T., Rice, M.E., Quinsey, V.L. & Chaplin, T.C.(1996). Viewing time as a measure of sexual interest among child molesters and normal heterosexual men. Behavior Research and Therapy, 4, 389-394
Quinsey, V. L., Ketsetzis, M., Earls, C., & Karamanoukian, A. (1996). Viewing time as a measure of sexual
interest. Ethnology & Sociobiology, 17 (5), 341-354.
Rosenzweig, S. (1942). The photoscope as an objective device for evaluating sexual interest. Psychosomatic Medicine, 4, 150-158. Singer, B. (1984). Conceptualizing sexual arousal and attraction.Journal of Sex Research, 20, 230 - 240.
Abel, G.G., Huffman, J., Warberg, B.W., and Holland, C.L. (1998). Visual Reaction Time & and plethysmography as measures of sexual interest in child molesters. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, </i>Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.81-95.
Letourneau, E.J.(2002). A comparison of objective measures of sexual arousal and interest: Visual Reaction Time & and penile plethysmography. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 14, No.3, pp. 207- 223.
Johnson, S.A. and Listiak, A. The measurement of sexual preference: A preliminary comparison of phallometry and the Abel assessment.The Sex Offender, Vol. III, Chapter 26, Schwartz, B.K. (Ed) Civic Research Institute.
Gray, S. R., and Plaud, J.J. (in press, 2002). A comparison of Abel Assessment for sexual interest™ and penile plethysmography in an outpatient sample of sex offenders. Journal of Sexual Offender Civil Commitment: Science and the Law, Vol. 1, pp. 1 – 10, 2005.
Letourneau, E. J. (1999, September). A comparison of the penile plethysmograph with the Abel Assessment for sexual interest™ on incarcerated military sex offenders. Paper presented at the 18th Annual Research and Treatment Conference of The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Seghorn, T. K., & Wiegel, M. (1999, September). Comparative use of Abel assessments and penile plethysmograph laboratory assessments in an outpatient forensic practice. Paper presented at the 18th Annual Research and Treatment Conference of The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
2. Has the theory or technique been subjected to peer review and publication?
Abel, G.G., Huffman, J., Warberg, B.W., and Holland, C.L. (1998). Visual Reaction Time & and plethysmography as measures of sexual interest in child molesters. <i>Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.81-95.
Letourneau, E.J.(2002). A comparison of objective measures of sexual arousal and interest: Visual Reaction Time &; penile plethysmography.Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 14, No.3, pp. 207-223.
Abel, G.G., Jordan, A., Hand, C.G., Holland, L.A. and Phipps, A. (2001). Classification models of child molesters utilizing the Abel Assessment for sexual interests"'. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, 25(5), 703-718.
Gray, S. R., and Plaud, J.J. (in press, 2002). A comparison of Abel Assessment for sexual interest™ and penile plethysmography in an outpatient sample of sex offenders. Journal of Sexual Offender Civil Commitment: Science and the Law, Vol. 1, pp. 1 – 10, 2005.</li>
Johnson, S.A. and Listiak, A. The measurement of sexual preference: A preliminary comparison of phallometry and the Abel assessment.The Sex Offender, Vol. III, Chapter 26, Schwartz, B.K. (Ed.) Civic Research Institute.
Kalmus, E. and Beech, A. R. Forensic assessment of sexual interest: A review. Aggression and Violent behavior, Vol. 10, pp.193-217, 2005.
3. What is the known or potential error rate of the technique in question, and are there standards and safeguards controlling the operation of the technique or device?
Cronbach’s alpha reliability .8 - .9 and sensitivity of 66%-91%
Abel, G.G., Huffman, J., Warberg, B.W., and Holland, C.L. Visual reaction time and plethysmography as measures of sexual interest in child molesters.Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.81-95, 1998.
Abel, G.G., Jordan, A., Hand, C.G., Holland, L.A. and Phipps, A. (2001). Classification models of child molesters utilizing the Abel Assessment for sexual interests"'. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, 25(5), 703- 718.
Standards and safeguards include ASI workshop training, training tests, phone consultations with Dr. Abel or other ASI trainers, and website training materials. Same stimulus materials, same software standard data processing and standard reports
4. General acceptance by the scientific community.
Visual Reaction Time (VRT)™ accepted since 1940’s
Abel Assessment used more than 90,000 times in over 600 locations, by more than 4000 mental health providers
AASI is one of two instruments that should be used to corroborate the report of sexual interests in children according to the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) (approved February 25, 2002).
Kalmus, E., & Beech, A. R. (2005). Forensic assessment of sexual interest: A review Aggression and Violent Behavior Vol. 10, pp. 193-217.