Facial feature prioritization by forensic specialists
- 1Information Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America.
- 2Systems Plus, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America.
Abstract
Forensic face specialists are tasked with comparing facial images to determine identity, a process often guided by protocols emphasizing a comprehensive analysis of the full face. However, the strategies specialists employ regarding feature prioritization and accuracy based on specific features remain under-explored. This study investigated the decision-making processes of forensic face specialists using a novel task where participants matched an occluded probe image to one of two target identities by selectively revealing isolated facial features (e.g., ears, eyes, nose). Feature presentation was either self-selected by the specialist or revealed in a predetermined order based on similarity benchmarks. Results indicate that specialists are highly efficient, frequently achieving accurate identifications while viewing only one or two facial features. Ears were strongly preferred by specialists, but they displayed adaptability, altering their selection strategies based on the similarity of the visible features in the target images. The implications of these findings extend to the training and procedural guidelines for face specialists, highlighting the need for a focused approach to developing identification techniques that enhance accuracy in forensic contexts.
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BibTeX
@article{hahn2026facial,
title = {{Facial feature prioritization by forensic specialists}},
author = {Carina A Hahn and P Jonathon Phillips and John D Grantham and Amy N Yates},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0359520},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359520},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Facial feature prioritization by forensic specialists
AU - Carina A Hahn
AU - P Jonathon Phillips
AU - John D Grantham
AU - Amy N Yates
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0359520
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359520
AB - Forensic face specialists are tasked with comparing facial images to determine identity, a process often guided by protocols emphasizing a comprehensive analysis of the full face. However, the strategies specialists employ regarding feature prioritization and accuracy based on specific features remain under-explored. This study investigated the decision-making processes of forensic face specialists using a novel task where participants matched an occluded probe image to one of two target identities by selectively revealing isolated facial features (e.g., ears, eyes, nose). Feature presentation was either self-selected by the specialist or revealed in a predetermined order based on similarity benchmarks. Results indicate that specialists are highly efficient, frequently achieving accurate identifications while viewing only one or two facial features. Ears were strongly preferred by specialists, but they displayed adaptability, altering their selection strategies based on the similarity of the visible features in the target images. The implications of these findings extend to the training and procedural guidelines for face specialists, highlighting the need for a focused approach to developing identification techniques that enhance accuracy in forensic contexts.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -