Absolute- 1) perfect, complete and ultimate in quality or nature 2) expressing finality with no implication of possible change
Absolute Certainty- ultimate sureness with no implication of possible change
Absolute Identity- the determination of identity by features whose frequency (or likelihood) of reoccurrence is ultimately impossible (Compare with Practical Identity)
Agree- to be similar
Agreement- to be similar or having harmony of character
Association- to join or connect together
Certainty- sureness
Consecutiveness- one right after another in order
Correspondence- be in conformity or agreement
Confirm- strengthen or make firm
Criterion- a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based
Distribution- the dispensing or imparting of physical features
Elements of Identity- elements of a tool's uniqueness which are resultant from the distribution random characteristics
Empirical- 1) that which is seen or observed 2) relying on or derived from observation
Empirical Knowledge- propositional knowledge obtained by experience or testimony of others
Empirical Research (Study)- Activity that uses direct or indirect observation as its test of reality. Empirical research in Toolmark ID attempts to describe accurate interaction between the examiner's instrument(s) and the object(s) being observed. The examiner is expected to calibrate his/her instrument by applying it to a known standard object and document results before applying it to an unknown object.
Error Rate- the frequency at which one deviates or strays from a correct standard
Feature- prominent part of a characteristic
Identification- the association of distinctive feature(s) to an individual
Identification, Laws of-
- Uniqueness- individuality in nature that surpasses statistics or averages of occurrence
- Entropy- close to others when manufactured then becomes dissimilar through age and/or wear
Individuality- distinguishing an individual from others by qualities
Individual- characteristic(s) that separates distinguishes one from all other items of the same kind of group or class
Individualization- 1) development of the individual from the universal 2) process by which individuals become differentiated
Numeric- denoting a number or system of numbers
Objective- 1) of, relating to, or being an object, phenomenon or condition in the realm of sensible experience, individual thought & perceptible by all observers 2) expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feeling, prejudices or interpretations
Practitioner- one who practices a profession
Practical- relating to, or manifested in practice or action
Practical Certainty- sureness related to, or manifested in practice or action
In the context of a scientific conclusion, practical certainty occurs when an examiner can affirm all of the following necessary conditions:
- He or she believes the conclusion is true and accurate;
- He or she has rational grounds for believing the conclusion is true and accurate; and
- He or she acknowledges that, in the abstract, it is not possible to achieve absolute certainty for results flowing from a scientific theory or technique.
Practical Identity- the (subjective or empirical) determination of identity by features whose frequency (or likelihood) of reoccurrence is so remote that it can be considered virtually impossible (Compare to Absolute Identity)
Pattern Recognition- the cognitive discernment between two similar or dissimilar configurations
Phenomenon- 1) an observable fact or event 2) fact or event of scientific interest that is susceptible of scientific description and explanation
Probability- the ratio of the number of outcomes in an exhaustive set of equally likely outcomes that produce a given event to the total number of possible outcomes
Random- 1) having no specific pattern 2) produced by chance or unplanned in nature
Reliability- the extent to which an experiment, test or measuring procedure yields the same the same results on repeated trials
Standard- something established by authority, custom or general consent as a model or example
Study- careful analysis
Scientific method- procedures for the systematic gathering of knowledge. These procedures generally involve:
- state the problem
- develop a hypothesis
- test the hypothesis
- form a theory
- use theories to predict events
- theory becomes law
Science- a systematic gathering of knowledge. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and the theoretical explanation of phenomena.
Scientist- one learned in science and esp. natural science
Science, Natural- systematized knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena (Compare to Science)
Testable- to be proven true or false
Testability- a critical evaluation process that supports or refutes a hypothesis
Theorem- an idea accepted or proposed as demonstrable truth; often as part of a general theory
Theory- most logical explanation of an event that occurs in nature
Validate- to support or corroborate on a sound or authoritative basis, i.e. confirm
Verification- to confirm the truth or correctness of something