AP0502 - Trace Analysis

You will learn from experienced trace practitioners through lectures, practical laboratory sessions and workshops designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to conduct a forensic trace examination and its subsequent interpretation. The lectures will cover theories and concepts that will enable you to put theory into practice in a series of practical laboratory exercises using industry standard equipment. Workshops are designed to allow you to gain hands-on experience in data analysis in Northumbria’s computer labs, which are fully equipped with the latest industry-standard software. Recent and fundamental research studies will be used to bolster your learning and enable you to develop evidence based opinions when evaluating the significance of forensic trace evidence within the context of a case. This will be delivered using case studies and scenarios’ which provide ‘real-world’ experiences that reinforce the potential of fibres, glass and paint as evidence types to a forensic investigation.

You will be supported through active participation and discussion during laboratory practicals. These offer a unique opportunity to fully understand the scientific theory underpinning the laboratory tests and the interpretation of your scientific findings.

All lecture and practical material will be available on the University’s eLearning Portal, supplemented with guidance on further reading relevant to the subjects.

Written assessment feedback will also be provided to allow you to understand how you performed and how you can build on this performance in subsequent assessments within your programme.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• You will apply your theoretical knowledge to interpret and evaluate trace evidence in casework scenarios

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• You will develop your skills to be able to search, recover and identify fibres, glass and paint
• You will apply the results of analytical techniques to identify likely sources of fibres, glass and paint and use those results to evaluate their significance within the context of a case

There will be two components to this assessment
• Unseen exam (60%) MLO 1
• Practical assessment (40%) MLO's 2,3

The unseen examination will allow you demonstrate the depth and breadth of your knowledge and understanding of essential facts, theories and concepts to analyse and interpret trace evidence.

The authentic practical assessment is designed to assess your understanding of the individual strengths and limitations of fibre, glass and paint evidence in prioritising examinations, carrying out those examinations and evidencing your scientific findings and opinion. Formative feedback during laboratory classes will direct and support you to achieve this.

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Trace evidence such as textile fibres, glass and paint can often provide crucial evidence in a case, even in the absence of a DNA link. Fibre evidence, for example, has been shown to be crucial to the solving of many high profile and cold cases such as the murders of Stephen Lawrence and Damiloa Taylor, the costal path murders and the Ipswich serial killings to name but a few. In this module you will expand your knowledge and understanding of the theory, practices and processes of trace evidence examination whilst developing your practical transferrable laboratory skills of industry standard methods. Crucially, you will apply your knowledge to evaluate the significance of trace evidence within the context of a case.

Underpinnnig the theory, practical application and evaluation of trace evidence will be case studies and case scenarios used to enhance your appreciation and understanding of trace evidence in the investigation of crime. This module will provide an authentic learning experience which will deepen your understanding of the role of a forensic trace examiner and what value trace evidence can bring to a forensic investigation.