How can a fingerprint comparison go wrong?
A fingerprint left on a surface is a trace that must be interpreted. Missing detail and distortion can make comparison with a reference print difficult, and examiners can disagree about whether enough information is present. A known-answer study makes the problem measurable by comparing decisions with prints whose true relationship is already established.
Questions you could explore
- Which comparisons belong in the denominator of a false-positive rate?
- How should inconclusive decisions be represented when describing accuracy?
Start reading
- Ulery, Hicklin, Buscaglia, and Roberts / PNAS, 2011; hosted by NISTAccuracy and reliability of forensic latent fingerprint decisions
A primary study shows how fingerprint decisions are tested, including false positives, false negatives, and inconclusive comparisons.
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