I know you have a meaning for the phrase that you believe is correct. Everyone has the right to believe what they want. We only move forward as a society because people have different beliefs. The difference in beliefs is what makes us conduct experiments and do research. No one is 100% right in their beliefs and no one is 100% wrong. All I’m saying is most professional organizations are agreeing that the term should no longer be used. I am not seeing the person that continues to use it is wrong. Almost everyone on earth, believe the earth was flat, and the one person that believed in this round was wrong. Look how that turned out.

When it comes to the definition of science, I do not like using qualifiers such as reliable. What is considered reliable by one person may not be considered by another. To me science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence.

The scientific method is nothing more than a methodology used to solve a problem. The problem with the sample is how to cross the street. It does not necessarily produce science.

I have no problem with your being a level of confidence in an opinion, or a level of certainty. Some field the necessity to use words that are quantifiers to express this level. I also agree that where many in the forensic scientific community believe there should be no level of certainty the courts at this time disagree with that position.

One cannot reliably, apply the scientific method. Either you’re applying yet or you’re not applying. That’s like you cannot be halfway pregnant. How you do it, and using the scientific method is apply recognize methodology that is used in the profession and based upon the evaluation of the evidence using that methodology you reach your conclusion. Your conclusion’s reliability is based upon the quality of the evidence at the time you conduct your assessment of that evidence. Of course, any new information or evidence must be assessed along with the evidence previously used in a reevaluation. It is possible reevaluation will reach the same conclusion may cause a different conclusion to be reached.

Basically, all this discussion is about is the one phrase that you seem to believe should be used. I agree with what if you feel it’s the best way to explain the level of certainty of your conclusion you have every right to use it. All is the fact that the scientific community seems to have a different opinion.

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group