Final answer:
The Daubert test differs from the Frye test by focusing on reliable principles option (a) and methods and includes an examination of scientific validity and reliability, rather than just general acceptance in the scientific community.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Daubert test differs from the Frye test in that the Daubert test focuses on reliable principles and methods. Unlike the Frye test, which relies primarily on whether the scientific evidence is generally accepted in the relevant scientific community, the Daubert test is a more flexible, inclusive standard that evaluates the scientific validity and the evidentiary relevance and reliability of the principles and methodology upon which the expert evidence is based.
In applying the Daubert standard, judges are tasked with the role of a 'gatekeeper' for scientific evidence. They assess not just its acceptance within a scientific community, but also look at factors such as testability, publication and peer review, error rates, and maintenance of standards controlling the technique's operation.
To answer the student's question, the Daubert test does the following:
- a. Focuses on reliable principles and methods.
This means that the correct answer to the question is option A.