The effects of complexity on jurors' verdicts and construction of evidence

One hundred twenty mock jurors heard I of several versions of a civil trial . The tort trial was either high or low in information load and contained e vidence that either clearly favored the plaintiffs or was ambiguous. Expert witnesses testified in either technical or less technical language. Verdic ts favored the plaintiffs when the evidence was clear and was presented in technical language because technical language enhanced witnesses' credibili ty when the evidence was clear. Although high information loads and technic al language hindered evidence processing, jurors endeavored to comprehend, as indicated by the recall of more facts and alternative constructions of t he evidence when that evidence was ambiguous. However, those constructions were of poorer quality, incorporating evidence of lesser probative value.