Law and Psychology
Waites is one of the first people in the United States to achieve a total integration of law and psychology by education and practice. At the time he entered the two fields separately (circa 1973), there were no dual academic or degree programs that allowed such integration. Law and psychology were considered by academic institutions, attorney/legal regulatory entities, and psychological associations to be unrelated except in general terms.
However, between 1973 and 2002, Waites studied, conducted research, and/or practiced as a board certified trial attorney and social psychologist during which time he reviewed thousands of peer reviewed scientific research studies and learned how best to integrate applicable findings into the process of understanding the decision-making processes of judges, jurors, and arbitrators. Along with this understanding, Waites continually experimented and developed techniques and methods of enhancing the persuasive power of courtroom arguments in presentations. His research and practice included elements of social psychology, experimental psychology, developmental psychology, communications, organizational psychology, and other applied fields of psychology.
Waites is believed to be one of the first board certified trial attorneys trained as a social psychologist to publicly advocate and demonstrate the use of social science research in assisting trial attorneys and their clients to improve the effectiveness of courtroom and arbitration arguments and presentations.
Using advanced public and private social science research techniques, Waites is credited with improving the reliability and accuracy of private jury focus group, mock jury trials, mock arbitration hearings, and other advanced social science research techniques to the development of persuasive courtroom presentations. With respect to litigation involving an upcoming jury trial, this field of research is often referred to as jury research.
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