Final answer:
False, documentary evidence consists of documents or records, whereas testimony is what a witness says on the stand. Audio recordings may serve as documentary evidence but are not synonymous with testimony which is assessed for reliability in social epistemology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that documentary evidence normally comes from the witness stand but may be voice-recorded is false. Documentary evidence usually consists of documents or records presented in court to support a case, such as written contracts, emails, invoices, or official records. Whereas, testimony often refers to what a witness says on the stand during a trial, and while it can be corroborated by documentary evidence, it is not the same thing. Audio recordings can sometimes serve as documentary evidence if they are admissible under the rules of evidence. Testimony is also a key component of social epistemology, where determining the reliability of a source, including an eyewitness in court, depends on assessing their trustworthiness, expertise, and the circumstances under which the information was conveyed.
In court, modifications in how witnesses are questioned and the conducting of police lineups can impact the suggestibility and reliability of testimony. Moreover, societal knowledge is largely constructed through the social means of gaining knowledge known as testimony. This is evident as most knowledge acquisition involves trusting the testimony of others, whether in the field of science, education, or the media. Notwithstanding its importance, testimony can sometimes be unreliable, and establishing when testimony is justified can be complex.