Which of the following best describes the relationship between psychological contamination and assessment findings?

The relationship between psychological contamination and assessment findings is best described by the notion that it can introduce bias into the findings. Psychological contamination refers to the influence of an assessor’s or a participant’s emotional, cognitive, or contextual factors that can distort the objectivity of the assessment process. When these biases come into play, they can lead to altered perceptions or interpretations of data, ultimately affecting the validity and reliability of the assessment results.

In forensic investigations, it is critical to maintain objectivity to ensure that the assessments reflect true and accurate snapshots of the subjects being evaluated. Psychological contamination disrupts this integrity, as cognitive biases—such as confirmation bias, overgeneralization, or emotional influence—can lead assessors to make conclusions that are not supported by the evidence. Thus, acknowledging the potential for bias due to psychological contamination is vital in interpreting assessment findings accurately and ensuring the integrity of forensic evaluations.