Archive | Trial Science

Jury Duty

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 2, 2017

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

Jury duty is one of those things that brings up a groan from many people – not unlike the idea of going to a dentist. Of course, we at Magnus, and the clients we support, depend on jurors, or rather prospective jurors, to show up to participate when summoned. That, however, is not the focus […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 2, 2017

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Deliberations, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

I have lost count of the number of times people ask me how to “get off” jury duty. Despite knowing my occupation and perhaps, in spite of knowing my occupation, these individuals persist in believing I am going to tell them to look and/or act strangely, say ridiculous things, or provide them with other ways […]

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Insights for Success

For many years, Magnus has used “Insights for Success” as a tag line in many of our marketing materials. We have recently reevaluated this concept in the process refining our materials. “Insights for Success” has much meaning, and history, to us. We at Magnus firmly believe that the trial consulting work we do helps clients […]

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As David wrote, “insights for success” has a long history in our company. We have been asked, countless times, for our success rate over the years we have been in business. Although it may appear, on the surface, that measuring our success is an easy task, in reality, defining success has proven to be quite […]

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The Psychology of Litigation

This is a topic I came up with because I’ve been thinking about what is it Melissa and I really do as trial consultants and in our company, Magnus Research. We know what we do, but it is sometimes difficult to come up with ways to explain it. And, especially as we encounter lawyers who […]

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My education and training in social psychology was aimed toward the pursuit of a career in academia. However, experiences in graduate school led me to the realization that I would be more suited for a career in applied social psychology (in the “real world”) than becoming a college professor. My skill set is broad, such […]

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What have you got to lose by doing mock jury research?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 1, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Advance warning, this post is positively self serving to our means of earning a living – trial consulting. Every once in a while, and more often than I think it should happen, I hear comments from prospective clients who say something like “my client or my co-counsel doesn’t think doing mock jury research is really […]

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It is a well known social psychological phenomenon that most people prefer schema congruent information over information that is incongruent with their schemata. (The reader is probably asking himself/herself, “What does this mean, in laypersons’ terms?”.) Most people have a certain way of viewing the world that, for them, is more important than reality, the […]

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The Psychology of Medical Malpractice

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 17, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

In the September 2016 Monitor on Psychology, there was an article entitled “Medical Errors are the Third Leading Cause of Death in the United States.” My reaction was “WOW”; it’s hard to believe medical errors are responsible for more deaths than respiratory ailments, strokes, Alzheimer’s Disease and are only surpassed by heart disease and cancer. […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 17, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Psychologists who have analyzed data from numerous adverse medical situations have identified 5 types of errors that cause medical mistakes: (1) errors of commission; (2) errors of omission; (3) errors of communication; (4) errors of context; and (5) diagnostic errors. The underlying problems that lead to medical errors have been studied by psychologists because many […]

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Mirror Jury

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 10, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

Following the recent Bull theme yet again, anyone who has watched the first 2 episodes has observed Dr. Bull conducting a “Mirror Jury.” So, before you ask, a “Mirror Jury” or something by another similar name is real. The most commonly used term for this service provided by trial consultants is “Shadow Jury®.” Anyone notice […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 10, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

I must admit that the new TV show about jury consultants is a highly entertaining, fanciful, drama. (In my opinion, it does not come close to the entertainment value of my long time favorite show, “The Simpsons,” however.) Because the term, “Shadow Jury®” was a registered trademark formerly owned by Litigation Sciences (my former employer), […]

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Trial Science

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 3, 2016

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

The TV character Dr. Bull is proving interesting in that he has introduced some terminology that may be unfamiliar to attorneys and the general public. Dr. Bull references “Trial Science” which may lead some to wonder is there any science to a trial. Many trials involve forensic science, experts, engineers, and more, but the concept […]

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Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 3, 2016

Category: Careers, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Trial Consulting, Trial Science

My first job as a social psychologist working in the world of law was at a company called Litigation Sciences, Inc.  LSI, as it was commonly referred to, was one of the first companies that worked for attorneys involved in high stakes litigation.  LSI was founded in the late 1970s, meaning the kind of work […]

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