week 8

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The Roles of Diversity in Research and Practices

Arlenn Campos

Department of forensic psychology, Northcentral University

PSY- 6510 V3 : Capstone in forensic psychology

Dr. John Mitchell

October 14, 2022

Article 1

To improve the forensic sciences, the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences (OIFS) at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) draws on the expertise of researchers from several fields. The Office of Integrity in the Forensic Sciences (OIFS) has initiated a strategic planning process aimed at increasing the number of people from underrepresented groups who participate in the forensic science community as funding candidates, reviewers, as well as graduate student fellows (Wagstaff & LaPorte, 2018). Evaluation, public involvement, and sustainability are the three pillars of this strategic planning process.

The positive effects of a diverse workforce have long been recognized.Workplaces with a diverse group of employees tend to be more creative, solve problems more effectively, and push themselves to the next level of competition. Studies have indicated that teams with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives are more successful overall. New and more complicated research questions and challenges can be tackled with a greater diversity of thought, perspective, and background (Wagstaff & LaPorte, 2018). According to the results of this study, there is a correlation between the presence of diverse groups in scientific research teams and the number of citations that team members receive in scholarly publications.

To keep up with the rapid pace of change in the forensic sciences, it is essential that we draw on the knowledge and experience of a diverse range of people. The forensic sciences rely on the growth of the science and engineering sectors, which saw a 10.5% increase in employment (817,260 jobs) between May 2009 and May 2015, compared to a net growth of 5.2% in nonscience-related occupations. This expansion outstrips the ability to fill these positions with newly qualified workers (Wagstaff & LaPorte, 2018). We need to teach and hire more forensic scientists and create a culture where people's differences are celebrated if we want to see progress in the forensic sciences.

When it comes to the law, forensic scientists apply their knowledge of a wide range of scientific fields, including biology, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering. After completing undergraduate or graduate studies in science disciplines, forensics experts may choose to specialize in areas such as toxins, pathologies, or Genetic analysis (Wagstaff & LaPorte, 2018). Since outgrowths of these broad scientific domains, several investigative disciplines had evolved, each of which requires specific knowledge and skills.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) recognizes the importance of having input from all sectors of society in order to effectively carry out its purpose. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is dedicated to recruiting top scientists from a variety of fields and academic backgrounds to fund ground-breaking research into issues in the criminal justice system.

Article 2

When it comes to expanding the pool of people who conduct research in forensics and criminal justice, diversity in terms of gender, race, and ethnicity is extremely important. However, if we are to enjoy the benefits of much more direct interventions to problem-solving, it is just as crucial that we have a diverse group of scientists working on these issues (Koppl, 2017).

There is a wealth of evidence pointing to the positive effects that diversity may have within a company. Diversity in a workforce can be beneficial for innovation, problem-solving, and competitiveness (Koppl, 2017). Diversity can be defined as the presence of individuals who differ from one another in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and background. Research has demonstrated that diverse teams outperform homogeneous teams in terms of performance, as well as creativity and overall effectiveness. An increase in the number of different ways of thinking, perspectives, and backgrounds paves the way for the investigation of brand new and more difficult research questions and challenges (Koppl, 2017). A direct connection between diversity in the scientific community and the quality of work, as determined by peer review, has also been established through research.

If we want to find new ways to solve old challenges in the field of forensic science, it is crucial that we draw on the expertise of people from many different backgrounds. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that between May 2009 and May 20154, the number of positions in the science and engineering sectors—which provide support for forensic sciences—rose by 10.5%, or 817,260 people. This increase was far larger than the overall net rise of 5.2% seen in non-scientific occupations (Koppl, 2017). This growth is outstripping the rate at which new workers are being educated and prepared to fill these positions. To improve the forensic sciences, it is crucial that more forensic scientists be educated and hired, and that an atmosphere be created in which individuality and diversity are celebrated (Koppl, 2017). More forensic scientists need to be trained, thus it's also important that we establish a conducive learning environment.

Diversifying the pipeline for STEM fields will allow us to tap into the intelligence and potential of groups of people who have been historically excluded from scientific activities (STEM). As a result, the range of issues that may be tackled and the number of questions that can be answered will both increase as a direct result of our work. Experts in the forensics sector come from the STEM fields, which means that diversity in those professions needs to be improved. Koppl (2017) argues that this can be done by making concerted and intentional attempts to recruit students by providing routes to STEM employment (Koppl, 2017). We are well aware that the low number of persons working in STEM disciplines is due in large part to the lack of diversity among STEM undergraduate majors.

Additionally, we are aware that efforts must begin at an early age, spanning the years K-12, and they must include both active learning and guided inquiry. We will be able to retain and support a greater number of students, particularly those who come from a variety of backgrounds, if we place our primary emphasis on eliminating crucial transition gaps between middle school, high school, colleges and graduate schools (Koppl, 2017). The United States of America will not be able to compete on a global scale or develop new solutions to reduce crime and protect public safety if it does not have a STEM workforce that is both stable and highly skilled. This workforce will underpin the forensic sciences.

References

Wagstaff, I. R., & LaPorte, G. (2018). The importance of diversity and inclusion in the forensic sciences.  National Institute of Justice Journal,  279, 81-91. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250701.pdf

Koppl, R. (2017). Diversity and forensics: diversity in hiring is not enough.  Medicine, science and the law,  47(2), 117-124.