Jason M. Chin
Jason M. Chin

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Research in science & law

I study the many ways in which science informs the legal system, and particularly how that relationship can be improved. This includes making sure law relies on the most transparent and reliable psychology, forensic science, criminology, and empirical legal research. In law, this often applies to expert evidence and law reform.

I’m also interested in broader questions, like what metaresearch tells us about how to build knowledge in a credible and efficient way.

I am a senior lecturer at the College of Law at the Australian National University, the former (2020-21) President of the Association for Interdisciplinary Meta-research and Open Science (AIMOS), and the inaugural registered reports editor for Forensic Science International: Synergy. I am also a member of the Evidence, policy, and influence collaborative (EPIC) at the Charles Perkins Centre.

I have a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of British Columbia where I was a Killam Scholar and a JD from the University of Toronto. I also graduated cum laude from the University of Virginia with a BA in Psychology and Economics.

Prior to returning to academia, I practiced litigation at a large international law firm and was called to the bar in both New York and Ontario. Whenever feasible, I try to offer pragmatic solutions and guidance to the challenges faced by practicing lawyers.

My research has been cited by the High Court of Australia, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and Australian Law Reform Commission. It has also been featured in the New York Times and Sydney Morning Herald.

When I conduct empirical research, I attempt to do so with open and reproducible scientific methods.

Find my (sorta) most recent CV here: [link].

You can email me at jason dot chin at anu dot edu dot au.

Find out more about my research on the below services:

SSRN | Google Scholar | Research Gate | Open Science Framework | ORCid

Selected funding, publications, and talks

Australian Research Council. Investigating memory reliability in intoxicated witnesses of crime, $525,427 AUD, 2022-2025. Co-CI with Lauren Monds (lead CI), Melanie Takarangi, Mark Montebello, Monica Semra, and Heather Flowe.

Private funder. Grant to fund meta-research and open science, $200,000 AUD, 2021. Lead CI with Alex Holcombe.

Victoria Police. EBFI Collaborative Journal Club and Research Synthesis, $19,252.33 AUD, 2021. Co-CI with Kristy Martire (lead CI) and Gary Edmond.

Charles Perkins Centre. Funding for a conference on meta-research and open science (AIMOS), $5,000 AUD, 2020. Lead CI with Alex Holcombe and Shinichi Nakagawa.

Academy of The Social Sciences in Australia. Funding for workshop titled Crime in the Intimate Sphere: Issues in Evidence, $9,000 AUD, 2019-2020. Co-CI with Heather Douglas and Caitlin Goss.

American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA, USA, $2,600 AUD, 2018.

Izaak Killam Foundation. Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, $53,500 CAD, 2007-2009.

Publications

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Jason M Chin, “Law and psychology must think critically about effect sizes” (2023) 3 Discover Psychology 3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-022-00062-2 [Direct] [PsyArXiv] [SSRN]

Jason M Chin, Kathryn Zeiler, Natali Dilevski, Alex O Holcombe, Rosemary Gatfield-Jeffries, Ruby Bishop, Simine Vazire & Sarah Schiavone, “The transparency of quantitative empirical legal research published in highly ranked law journals (2018–2020): an observational study” (2023) F1000 Research. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.127563.1 [Direct] [MetaArXiv] [SSRN]

Wolfgang Kaltenbrunner, Ludo Waltman, Adrian Barnett, Jennifer Byrne, Jason M Chin, Alex Holcombe, Stephen Pinfield, Simine Vazire & James Wilsdon, “MetaROR – a new form of scholarly publishing and peer review for STS” (2023) 42(1) EASST Review. [Direct]

Henry Otgaar, Paul Riesthuis, Tess M.S. Neal, Jason M. Chin, Irena Boskovic & Eric Rassin, “If Generalization is the Grail, Practical Relevance is the Nirvana: Considerations from the Contribution of Psychological Science of Memory to Law” (2023) 12(2) Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition 176. https://doi.org/10.1037/mac0000116 [PsyArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct]

Gianni Ribeiro, Helena Likwornik & Jason M Chin, “Visual decision aids: Improving laypeople’s understanding of forensic science evidence” (2023) 12(2) Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition 230. https://doi.org/10.1037/mac0000026 [PsyArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, “Open science to advance reproducible legal research: Investigating IMM v The Queen” (2022) 3 ANU Journal of Law and Technology 32-54. https://doi.org/10.31228/osf.io/2j3ye. [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin & Alex O Holcombe, “Rethinking replication in empirical legal research” (2022) 49(2) The University of Western Australia Law Review 76-112. [MetaArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Bethany Growns, Joel Sebastian, Matthew J Page, Shinichi Nakagawa, “The transparency and reproducibility of systematic reviews in forensic science” (2022) 340 Forensic Science International. [MetaArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct]

Jason M Chin & Carlos Miguel Ibaviosa “Beyond CSI: Calibrating public beliefs about the reliability of forensic science through openness and transparency” (2022) 62 Science & Justice 272-283. [MetaArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Gary Edmond & Andrew Roberts, “Simply Unconvincing: The High Court on Probative Value and Reliability in the Uniform Evidence Law” (2022) 50(1) Federal Law Review 104-127. [SSRN] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Hayley J Cullen & Beth Clarke, “The prejudices of expert evidence” (2022) 48(2) Monash Law Review 59. [MetaArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Malgorzata Lagisz & Shinichi Nakagawa, “Where is the evidence in evidence-based law reform?” (2022) 45(3) UNSW Law Journal 1124-1154. [MetaArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct]

Jason M Chin & Tess MS Neal, “Further caution is required on what memory experts can reliably say” (2022) Forensic Science International: Mind and Law 100113. [PsyArXiv] [SSRN] [Direct] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiml.2022.100113

Max M Houck, Jason M Chin, Henry Swofford & Caroline Gibb, “Registered reports in forensic science” (2022) 9 Royal Society Open Science 221076. [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Alexander C DeHaven, Tobias Heycke, Alexander O Holcombe, David T Mellor, Justin T Pickett, Crystal N Steltenpohl, Simine Vazire & Kathryn Zeiler, “Improving the credibility of empirical legal research: practical suggestions for researchers, journals, and law schools” (2021) 3(2) Law, Technology and Humans 107. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Justin T Pickett, Simine Vazire & Alex O Holcombe, “Questionable Research Practices and Open Science in Quantitative Criminology” (2021) Journal of Quantitative Criminology. [SocArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin & Kathryn Zeiler, “Replicability in Empirical Legal Research” (2021) 17 Annual Review of Law and Social Science 239. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Nick Wray-Jones & Jason M Chin, “Can ADR improve expert evidence?” (2021) 95 The Australian Law Journal 467. [SSRN] [CRIMRXIV]

Patrick Webb, Jason Chin, Cynthia-Lee Williams & Kimya Dennis, “Technological Advocacy and Crime Reporting in an HBCU Setting: Addressing the Prospect of Legal Cynicism in the Ebony Tower” (2021) Journal of Black Studies. [Direct]

Samuel G Robson, Myriam A Baum, Jennifer L Beaudry, Julia Beitner, Hilmar Brohmer, Jason Chin, Katarzyna Jasko, Chrystyna Kouros, Ruben Laukkonen, David Moreau, Rachel A Searston, Heleen A Slagter, Niklas K Steffens, Jason M Tangen & Amberyn Thomas, “Promoting Open Science: A holistic approach to changing behaviour” (2021) 7(1) Collabra: Psychology 30137. [Direct] [PsyArXiv]

Jason M Chin, “Pre-recorded expert evidence in intimate partner violence cases” (2020) Current Issues in Criminal Justice. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Heather Douglas & Caitlin Goss, “Introduction to the special issue: evidence in the intimate sphere” (2020) 32(4) Current Issues in Criminal Justice. [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Mehera San Roque & Rory McFadden, “The new psychology of expert witness procedure” (2020) 42(1) Sydney Law Review 69. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin & Rory McFadden, “Expert witness codes of conduct for forensic practitioners: a review and proposal for reform” (2020) 2(1) Canadian Journal of Law and Justice 23. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Rory McFadden & Gary Edmond, “Forensic science needs registered reports” (2020) 2 Forensic Science International: Synergy 41. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Armin Alimardani & Jason M Chin, “Neurolaw in Australia: The use of neuroscience in Australian criminal proceedings” (2019) Neuroethics. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Bethany Growns & David T Mellor, “Improving expert evidence: the role of open science and transparency” (2019) 50(2) Ottawa Law Review 365. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin & Caitlin Goss, “Introduction to the special edition on expert evidence” (2019) 38(2) The University of Queensland Law Journal 183. [SSRN] [LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin & D'Arcy White,* "Forensic Bitemark Identification Evidence in Canada" (2019) 52(1) UBC Law Review 57. (*advisee) [SSRN] [LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin, Gianni Ribeiro & Alicia Reardon, “Open Forensic Science” (2019) 6(1) The Journal of Law and the Biosciences 255. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, Michael Lutsky* & Itiel E Dror “The biases of experts: An empirical analysis of bias allegations in Canadian courts” (2019) 42(4) Manitoba Law Journal 21. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Rachel Searston & Jason M Chin, “The legal and scientific challenges of black box expertise” (2019) 38(2) University of Queensland Law Journal 238. [SSRN] [PsyArXiv]

Jason M Chin, "Abbey Road: The (Ongoing) Journey to Reliable Expert Evidence" (2018) 96(3) Canadian Bar Review 422-459. [Direct] [SSRN] [LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin & William E Crozier, "Rethinking the Ken Through the Lens of Psychological Science" (2018) 55(3) Osgoode Hall Law Journal 625. [SSRN] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Rachael Kwan & Jason M Chin, "Be careful what you promise: Proprietary estoppel in Cowper Smith v Morgan" (2018) 37(4) Estates, Trusts & Pensions Journal 309-327. [SSRN]

Helena Likwornik, Jason M Chin & Maya Bielinski, "The Diverging Dictionaries of Science and Law" (2018) 22(1) The International Journal of Evidence & Proof 33-52. [SSRN] [OSF] [LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin & Helena Likwornik, "R v Bingley and the Importance of Scientifically-Guided Legal Analysis" (2017) 43(1) Queen's Law Journal 33. [SSRN] [RG][LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin, Jan Tomiska* & Chen Li,* "Drawing the Line Between Lay and Expert Opinion Evidence" (2017) 63(1) McGill Law Journal. (*advisees) [SSRN] [RG] [LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin, “What irreproducible results mean for the law of scientific evidence” (2016) 35(1) The Advocates’ Journal 17-20. [SSRN] [RG] [LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin, Archie Rabinowitz & Aoife Quinn,* “The presumption of resulting trust and beneficiary designations: What’s intention go to do with it?” (2016) 54(1) Alberta Law Review 41-67. [SSRN] [RG] [OSF] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason Chin & Larysa Workewych, “The CSI Effect” in Markus Dubber, ed, Oxford Handbooks Online (New York: Oxford University Press, 2016). [SSRN] [RG] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin & Scott Dallen, "R. v. Awer and the Dangers of Science in Sheep’s Clothing” (2016) 63 Criminal Law Quarterly 527-555. [SSRN] [RG] [LawArXiv]

Jason M Chin & Vanja Ginic, “Book Review, Unlocking Memories: Cognitive Interviewing for Lawyers” (2016) 54(1) Osgoode Hall Law Journal 311-316. [SSRN] [RG] [LawArXiv] [Direct]

Jason M Chin, “Psychological science’s replicability crisis and what it means for science in the courtroom” (2014) 20 Psychology, Public Policy, and Law 225-238. [SSRN] [RG] [LawArXiv]

Michael D Mrazek, Jonathan Smallwood, Michael S Franklin, Jason M Chin, Benjamin B Baird & Jonathan W Schooler, “The role of mind-wandering in measures of general aptitude” (2012) 141 Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 788. [RG]

Jason M Chin, Michael D Mrazek & Jonathan W Schooler, “Blind Spots: Limits in Self Knowledge of Mental Contents and Personal Predispositions” in Simine Vazire & Timothy D Wilson, eds, Handbook of Self Knowledge (New York: Guilford Press, 2012).

Michael D Mrazek,* Jason M Chin,* Toni Schmader, Kimberly K Hartson, Jonathan Smallwood & Jonathan W Schooler, “Threatened to Distraction: Mind Wandering as a Consequence of Stereotype Threat” (2011) 47 Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 1243-1248. (*shared first authorship) [RG]

Jason Chin & Jonathan W Schooler “Why do words hurt?  Content, Process, and Criterion Shift Accounts of Verbal Overshadowing” (2008) 20(3) European Journal of Cognitive Psychology 1-18. [RG]

Kathleen D Vohs, Roy F Baumeister & Jason Chin “Feeling Duped: Emotional, Motivational, and Cognitive Aspects of Being Exploited by Others” (2007) 11 Review of General Psychology 127-141. [RG]

Selected talks

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Jason M Chin, “Forensic Science needs registered reports” (2022) Invited speaker series at the Université de Lausanne department of forensic science, online. [OSF]

Jason M Chin, Kathryn Zeiler, Natali Dilevski, Alex O. Holcombe, Rosemary Gatfield-Jeffries, Ruby Bishop, Simine Vazire & Sarah R. Schiavone, “The Transparency of Quantitative Empirical Legal Research (2018–2020)” (2022) Referred conference presentation at the Conference on Empirical Legal Studies, online. [OSF]

Jason M Chin, “AIMOS and Metaresearch in Law” (2021) Invited talk at the Evidence, policy and influence collaborative (EPIC), Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. [OSF]

Jason M Chin & Kathryn Zeiler, “The Researcher's Role in Increasing Transparency in Empirical Research” (2021) Invited talk at the Law and Economics Workshop at the University of Florida School of Law, Online. [OSF]

Jason M Chin & Kathy Zeiler, “Reproducibility in Empirical Legal Research” (2020) Boston University Law Faculty Workshop, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.

Jason M Chin, “Open science and factfinding in courts” (2019) Keynote talk at the Psychology & Law Open Science Conference, Ubud, Indonesia. [OSF]

Jason M Chin, “Open science in the courtroom (and its role in criminal justice)” (2018) Presented at the Second Annual Junior Faculty Forum for Law and STEM at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL, USA. [OSF]

Jason M Chin, "Open science in the courtroom (and its role in criminal justice)" (2018) Invited talk at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, California. [OSF]

Armin Alimardani & Jason M Chin, “Neurolaw in Australia: The use of neuroscience in Australian criminal proceedings” (2017) Presented at the annual meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology, Canberra. [OSF]

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