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SAGE Journal User Guide

Journal Article 5.1: Stokoe, E. & Edwards, D. (2008).  ‘Did you have permission to smash your neighbour’s door?’  Silly questions and their answers in police-suspect interrogations.  Discourse Studies, 10(1), 89-111.  doi:  10.1177/1461445607085592

1.  According to Stokoe & Edwards (2008), what is the role of silly questions during police interrogations?  Do you believe that they are important in police questioning?  Should silly questions be implemented?  Why or why not? 

2.  How are silly questions during interrogations relevant to establishing mens rea?  Are the responses to silly questions valid indication of mental state?  Why or why not?

3.  How did Stokoe & Ewards (2008) examine the role of silly questions?  Critique their methods.  Do you have any suggestions on how they might find a better measurement?

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Journal Article 5.2: Ask, K. & Pina, A. (2011).  On Being Angry and Punitive:  How Anger Alters Perception of Criminal Intent.  Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(5), 494-499.  doi:  10.1177/1948550611398415

1.  What is the role of emotions when determining crime seriousness or a perpetrator’s blameworthiness?  Do you believe this is applicable to juries and judges?  If so, how might it affect the criminal justice system?

2.  How did Ask & Pina (2011) measure punitiveness?  How did they select their participants?  Critique their study and discuss its pros and cons.

3.   According to Ask & Pina (2011), how is the concept of legal mental state differ from that of the lay person’s definition of a mental state?  How might this affect jury decision making?  What are some of the possible implications of this study?