6 Months Foundation course on Research Methodology in Forensic Psychology

 

 

6 Months Foundation course on Research Methodology in Forensic Psychology

 

 RABINDRIK PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH INSTITUTE TRUST

Registered under Indian Trust Act, 1882.

Registration number: 150600103

Information Brochure

 ●      What is Forensic Psychology?

Forensic psychology is a specialty in professional psychology characterized by activities primarily intended to provide professional psychological expertise within the judicial and legal systems. The description and measurement of capacities relevant to legal questions is an important goal in forensic psychology. As a result, the forensic specialist attempts to create relevant, accurate and credible data and conclusions that inform legal arguments and judicial decision-making, but do not intrude upon it. In addition, there is a special focus on the need to clarify conflicts between psychological ethical standards and the demands of law. The synthesis of psychological and legal issues distinguishes forensic populations from other specialties. Forensic Psychologists help to better understand the human behaviour of criminals, witnesses, victims, jury to attorneys or other legal professionals, by applying psychological expertise and research. 

A forensic psychologist applies psychology to the criminal justice system. Forensic psychologists evaluate suspected criminals' competency to stand trial, assist trauma survivors, assess child custody during divorce proceedings, evaluate credibility of witnesses, and assess potential jurors. Forensic psychologists are primarily interested in seeking truth from suspects by using investigation instruments, mental health issues pertaining to the law, providing expert witness in court, personnel selection in law enforcement agencies, conducting treatment for the offenders. Experimental forensic psychologists deal with studying any aspect of human behaviour that relates to law such as, eyewitness memory, risk assessment etc.

Some of the functions typically performed within forensic psychology include:3

●      Competency evaluations

●      Sentencing recommendations

●      Evaluations of the risk of reoffending

●      Testimony as an expert witness

●      Child custody evaluations

●      Academic research on criminality

●      Consult with law enforcement

●      Treatment of criminal offenders

●      Provide psychological services to inmates and offenders.

●      Trial consultants who help with jury selection, witness preparation, or legal strategies.

●      Design correctional programs.

Rabindrik Psychotherapy Research Institute Trust aims at dissemination of knowledge about basic concept and theories of forensic Psychology and research methodology for level 1. In level 2, students will learn the assessment tools for investigation. In level 3, students will learn the act and will be able to contribute good research.

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY  MODULE

• Eligibility for Admission: Graduate or Post-graduate in Psychology/ Applied Psychology/ Law/criminology/Forensic Science  from a recognized Institution with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate. For SC/ST category, a minimum 50% mark in aggregate.

• Course Duration: 6 Month

• Marks: 500 (5papers X 100)

• Mode of Study: Online.
• Mode of Payment: Online.
• Before 31st  December, Rs. 18000 ( 6 months X Rs. 3000)
• After 31st  December Rs.19500 ( 6 months X Rs. 3250)
• Payment to: Payment in favor of Rabindrik Psychotherapy Research Institute Trust. Account number: 920020072908427, IFSC Code:- UTIB0000236 , AXIS BANK, DUNLOP (KOLKATA).

   

Level 1 Forensic Psychology

Module 1: Fundamentals of Forensic Psychology

Course Credit: 01

Duration - 30 hours

Marks: 100

Unit	Name of the Topic	Hours
I	Introduction to Forensic Psychology and Forensic Psychological Instruments and tools for assessment (Masuma and Sweta)   Unit 1.1: Forensic Psychology, History and Development of Forensic Psychology, Mental Disorders and Forensic Psychology, Role of Forensic psychologists, Forensic Psychology and the Criminal Justice System, Famous Indian and International Forensic Psychologists.   Unit 1.2: Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature Profiling (BEOS), Polygraph, Suspect Detection System (SDS), Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) and Narcoanalysis with case studies.   Unit 1.3: Correctional Psychology, Criminal behaviour, Expert testimony, Eye-Witness Testimony, forensic assessment, Forensic evaluation, Institutionalization, Psychological Autopsy, Terrorism.   Unit1.4: Acts and job responsibilities of Forensic Psychologist, Basic Understanding of Evidence Act, Competency Of Witness And Eye-Witness Testimony, Expert Opinion and its Admissibility, Criminal Law Amendment And Landmark Judgements,
II	Models and theories of Forensic Psychology (Sonam & Meghmala)   Unit 2.1: Concept of Investigative Psychology; Historical Development and Current Approaches to Offender Profiling; Diagnostic Evaluation; Criminal Investigation Analysis; Crime Action Profiling; Profiling (Crime Scene Profiling; Geographical Profiling And Crime Mapping; Suspect-Based Profiling; Psychological Profiling; Psychological Autopsy); Profiling Databases   Unit 2.2: Concept of Interrogation, Interview (Clinical Vs. Forensic Psychology) and Confessions; Administration Of Case History Technique. Concept of Detection of Deception; History; Different Types of Lies; Deception in   Unit 2.3: Forensic Set-Up; Lying As A Developmental Milestone in Developmental Psychology; Major Variables (Body And Brain) Used In DDT.
III	Victimology and Victim Assistance (Saptaparni & Meghmala)   3.1. Introduction: Victimology Origin and Development of Victimology; Definitions; Dimensions of Victimization; Typology.   3.2. Criminal Justice System Victims in the Criminal Justice System; Retributive Justice; Restorative Justice; Scope of Victimology, Victim Rehabilitation.   3.3 Victim rights Victim Rights in India; Victim Compensation in India; Victim Compensation Fund, National Relief Fund; The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 related to victim compensation;   3.4. Victim Assistance National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force. National: Alternative Dispute Resolution System (ADR); Arbitration, Mediation and Counseling, Lok Adalats, Mahila courts; Restorative justice.
IV	Research methods in Forensic Psychology (saptaparni & D. Dutta Roy)   4.1. Research methods Research steps, Models of Research in Forensic Psychology- Experimental, Observational, Survey, Epidemiology, Meta-analysis.   4.2. Data collection  Jury decision making,  internet based data collection, legal research  techniques for social scientist,Methods of Data collection, differences between questionnaires and inventories, collection of secondary data.   4.3. Psycho-legal issues Offender treatment, Competence to stand trial, Criminal profiling, False Confessions and interrogations. Trial-related psycho-legal issues, Accuracy of Eyewitnesses and children, violence risk assessment.   4.4. Scaling techniques and Test development Scaling Techniques, Development of tests, test construction.
V	Practicum 5.1  Review of Literature (D.Dutta Roy) 5.2  Criminal profiling analysis (Saptaparni) 5.3  NCRB data analysis (Meghmala) 5.4  Psychological  assessment (Meghmala and Sonam)

Course co-ordinator : Ms. Ashmita Dey, P.G. (Psy.),

Student co-ordinator : Ms. Farah Ahmed , P.G. (Psy.). 

Introduction to Forensic Psychology and Forensic Psychological Instruments and tools for assessment

Reference:

Amin, M., and Singh, J. S. (2014). Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations. Unique Law Publishers.

Paranjape, N. V. (2005). Criminology and Penology. Central

Law Publications, Allahabad

Ram, A. (2000). Criminology. Rawat Publications, New Delhi.

S.M.A. Qadri (2009). Criminology and Penology (6th ed.).

Eastern Book Company. Lucknow

Barns, H.E., and Teeters, N. K. (1966). New Horizons in

Criminology. Prentice Hall of India Pvt.Ltd., New Delhi.

Bartol, C. R., and Bartol, A. M.(2010). Criminal Behavior: A

Psychological Approach.

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Company, New York.

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Rajan, V. N. (n.d.) Victimology in India.

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Webb, D. (2013). Criminal Profiling: An Introductory Guide.

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Interrogation Techniques, Third Edition (3rd ed.).

Math, S. B. (2011). Supreme Court judgment on polygraph, narco-analysis &

brain-mapping: a boon or a bane. The Indian Journal of Medical Research,

134(1), 4–7.

Models and theories of Forensic Psychology

Reference:

Mukundan, Champadi R, Wagh, N. B., Khera, G., and Khandwala, S. U.

(2008). Normative Data for Brain Electrical Oscillations Activation Profiling.

Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India: Technology Information Forecasting &

Assessment Council (TIFAC), Department of Science and Technology,

Government of India, New Delhi.

Nagle, Y. K., Srivastava, K., and Gupta, A. (2014). Handbook of Forensic

Psychology. Author House UK Ltd.

Nemesysco. (2009). Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) 6.50 : User Manual.

Retrieved from http://www.lva650.com/

Reid, J., and Inbau, F. (1997). Truth and Deception - The Polygraph (Liedetector) technique (2nd ed.). Waverly Press. Inc.

Towl, G. J., and Crighton, D. A. (2010). Forensic Psychology. Wiley-Blackwell

Chikushi, K., Singh, Y., Kaul, S. K., and Zaidi, M. H. (2008). Narco-Analysis,

Brain Mapping, Hypnosis and Lie Detector Tests in interrogtion of suspects.

Alia Law Agency.

Lakshman, S., and Kumaraswamy, C. M. H. D. (2007). Narcoanalysis and some

hard facts. Frontline, 24(9), 1–8.

Mukundan, C., S, and Chetan, S. (2017). Brain Electrical Oscillations

Signature Profiling (BEOS) for Measuring the Process of Remembrance. EC

NEUROLOGY, 6, 217–230. Retrieved from

https://www.ecronicon.com/ecne/pdf/ECNE-08-00256.pdf

Mukundan, C.R. (2016). Neurocognitive Processing Steps during

Remembrance. Journal of Psychology and Clinical Psychiatry, 6(6).

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Testing : A Research Review and Evaluation. Washington, D. C.: U.S.

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Vaya, S. L. (2013). National Resource Centre for Forensic Psychology

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Veeraraghavan, V. (2009). Handbook of Forensic Psychology. Selective and

Scientific Books.

Yadav, M. (2018). Narco-analysis and its evidentiary value in India. Indian

Journal of Research, 7(2), 410–411.

Victimology and Victim Assistance

Reference:

Amin, M., and Singh, J. S. (2014). Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations.

Unique Law Publishers.

Paranjape, N. V. (2005). Criminology and Penology. Central Law

Publications, Allahabad

Ram, A. (2000). Criminology. Rawat Publications, New Delhi.

Qadri (2009). Criminology and Penology (6th Ed.). Eastern Book Company.

Lucknow.

The Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (India).

U. N. Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and

Abuse of Power (1985)

Chockalingam, M. (ed.). (1985). Readings in Victimology. Ravi Raj

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Das, B. B. (1997). Victims in the criminal justice system. New Delhi: APH

Publishing Corporation Elias, R. (1993). Victims still: The political

manipulation of crime victims. Sage Publications, London.

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Mawby, R. I., and Gill, M. L. (1987). Crime victims: Needs, services and the voluntary sector. Tavistock, London.

Menon, N. R. Madhava (2004). Victim compensation law and criminal justice: A plea for a victim-orientation in criminal justice. In Vibhute, K. I. (Ed.) Criminal justice – A human rights perspective of the criminal justice process in India. Lucknow: Eastern Book Company.

Rajan, V. N. (1995). Victimology in India perspectives beyond frontiers. Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi

 

Research methods in Forensic Psychology

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