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To be admissible, an experiment must be conducted under the same conditions as those that existed at the time of the crime (or event in question).

a) True

b) False

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The statement in question is false; experiments in both legal and scientific contexts do not require the same original conditions to be admissible or valid. The legal admissibility of evidence depends on relevance and other legal standards, and scientific experiments are based on the scientific method, which can involve controlled environments different from the initial event.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement, "To be admissible, an experiment must be conducted under the same conditions as those that existed at the time of the crime (or event in question)" is False. While reconstructing an event under the same conditions can be helpful for understanding certain aspects of a situation, in the legal system, admissibility of evidence is governed by rules such as relevance, materiality, and the absence of prejudice.

Scientific experiments are often used to explore cause-and-effect relationships, but not all experiments can or need to recreate the exact conditions of the original event to be considered valid. For instance, in controlled experiments, researchers manipulate one or more variables while keeping others constant to test a hypothesis. However, it is possible that an experiment could be admitted as evidence in court if it meets the legal standards for evidence, even if it wasn't conducted under the exact conditions of the original event.

The scientific method is a systematic approach used in scientific research to collect data, formulate and test hypotheses, and come to conclusions. It is important to note that an experiment can still be considered successful even if it rejects the original hypothesis, as this can lead to further insights and refinement of the hypothesis. Furthermore, experiments on humans can be performed, but they must adhere to strict ethical guidelines.

Larger sample sizes generally provide more reliable data and are preferable to smaller ones in scientific research. Data that does not support a hypothesis can be extremely useful as it can inform future research directions and help refine theories. Experimentation is a key method in scientific investigation, although it is not the only method; observational studies and other research methodologies are also valid.

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