Citation

Daniels J, Caetano SJ, Huyer D, Stephen A, Fernandes J, Lytwyn A, Hoppe FM. J. Forensic Sci. 2017; 62(5): 1326-1331.

Affiliation

Mathematics and Statistics, McMaster University, 1200 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13437

PMID

28631383

Abstract

To assess if Benford's law, a mathematical law used for quality assurance in accounting, can be applied as a quality assurance measure for the manner of death determination. We examined a regional forensic pathology service's monthly manner of death counts (N = 2352) from 2011 to 2013, and provincial monthly and weekly death counts from 2009 to 2013 (N = 81,831). We tested whether each dataset's leading digit followed Benford's law via the chi-square test. For each database, we assessed whether number 1 was the most common leading digit. The manner of death counts first digit followed Benford's law in all the three datasets. Two of the three datasets had 1 as the most frequent leading digit. The manner of death data in this study showed qualities consistent with Benford's law. The law has potential as a quality assurance metric in the manner of death determination for both small and large databases.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

forensic science; health & safety; public health; qualitative research; quality in health care; statistics and research methods