Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition

As efforts to reform the Canadian criminal justice system progresse, there has been a rise in attention towards legal realist jurisprudence and the realm of legal architecture. This study aims to identify the degree of influence Canadian courtroom design has on a juror's perceptions of the defe...

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Main Author: Zhang, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Royal St. George's College 2019-08-01
Series:The Young Researcher
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/zhang.pdf
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author Zhang, C.
author_facet Zhang, C.
author_sort Zhang, C.
collection DOAJ
description As efforts to reform the Canadian criminal justice system progresse, there has been a rise in attention towards legal realist jurisprudence and the realm of legal architecture. This study aims to identify the degree of influence Canadian courtroom design has on a juror's perceptions of the defendant. Through a quasi-experimental research method, 44 high school students aged 14-18 served as jury members across a series of four trial recreations, each with a different layout. Afterward, they were then required to complete a post-test questionnaire. Three trials resulted in guilty verdicts, while one received a verdict of innocent. From the data gathered, it was concluded that the layout of Trial C had a significant degree of influence over a juror’s cognition and worked to attract higher rates of innocent verdicts in comparison to other courtroom designs.
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spelling doaj-art-6409e88b170249e891fe65355bc2f50a2025-08-20T03:34:25ZengRoyal St. George's CollegeThe Young Researcher2560-98232560-98232019-08-01313349Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognitionZhang, C.As efforts to reform the Canadian criminal justice system progresse, there has been a rise in attention towards legal realist jurisprudence and the realm of legal architecture. This study aims to identify the degree of influence Canadian courtroom design has on a juror's perceptions of the defendant. Through a quasi-experimental research method, 44 high school students aged 14-18 served as jury members across a series of four trial recreations, each with a different layout. Afterward, they were then required to complete a post-test questionnaire. Three trials resulted in guilty verdicts, while one received a verdict of innocent. From the data gathered, it was concluded that the layout of Trial C had a significant degree of influence over a juror’s cognition and worked to attract higher rates of innocent verdicts in comparison to other courtroom designs.http://www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/zhang.pdfcourtroom layoutlegal architecturespatial cognitionCanadian criminal justice systemjurortrial
spellingShingle Zhang, C.
Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition
The Young Researcher
courtroom layout
legal architecture
spatial cognition
Canadian criminal justice system
juror
trial
title Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition
title_full Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition
title_fullStr Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition
title_full_unstemmed Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition
title_short Spatial cognition in the courtroom: A quasi-experimental study of the influence Canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition
title_sort spatial cognition in the courtroom a quasi experimental study of the influence canadian courtroom design has on jury cognition
topic courtroom layout
legal architecture
spatial cognition
Canadian criminal justice system
juror
trial
url http://www.theyoungresearcher.com/papers/zhang.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT zhangc spatialcognitioninthecourtroomaquasiexperimentalstudyoftheinfluencecanadiancourtroomdesignhasonjurycognition