ABSTRACT
A. Optimization ......................................................................................... 222 B. Validation .............................................................................................. 223
1. Levels of Validation ....................................................................... 224 2. Validation of Methods for Comparison Evidence ...................... 225 3. Validity vs. Reliability .................................................................... 225 4. Is Validation Required? ................................................................. 228
C. Quality Assurance and Quality Control.............................................. 228 1. Quality Assurance.......................................................................... 228 2. Quality Control ............................................................................. 228
a. Standards and Controls ......................................................... 229 D. Standardization ..................................................................................... 230 E. Review.................................................................................................... 232
1. Internal Review.............................................................................. 232 2. Independent Review...................................................................... 233 3. Elements of Review ....................................................................... 234
a. What’s the Question? ............................................................. 234 b. Documentation ...................................................................... 235 c. What Evidence Was Tested?................................................... 236 d. Data and Results..................................................................... 236
i. Standards and Controls ................................................... 236 ii. Second Blind Read ........................................................... 236
e. Calculations ............................................................................ 237 f. Interpretation and Conclusions ............................................ 237 g. Validation................................................................................ 237 h. The Big Picture....................................................................... 240
F. Summary ............................................................................................... 240 References ...................................................................................................... 241
A forensic examination is not a controlled experiment. In fact, it is not an experiment at all. By definition, a scientific experiment requires not only known conditions, but also controlled conditions. Ideally, one variable at a time is altered while the others are held constant. This allows the scientist to determine specifically what is causing the change, if any, in the final results.
