How does the Frye standard differ from Daubert?

How does the Frye standard differ from Daubert?

• A. Frye requires general acceptance in the relevant field.
• B. Frye is more flexible and evidence-based than Daubert.
• C. Frye applies only to digital evidence.
• D. Daubert is the more flexible, evidence-based gatekeeping standard.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how expert methods get admitted as evidence. Frye says a technique can be used only if it is generally accepted by the relevant scientific community. That makes it hard for new methods to be used before they gain widespread support. Daubert changes the gatekeeping role: the judge evaluates the method’s reliability using an evidence-based approach, looking at factors like whether the method is testable, has been peer reviewed, has known error rates, and relies on standards, among other considerations. This criteria-driven process allows newer, well-founded techniques to be admitted even if they haven’t achieved broad general acceptance yet. Because of that, Daubert is the more flexible, evidence-based gatekeeping standard.

The key idea here is how expert methods get admitted as evidence. Frye says a technique can be used only if it is generally accepted by the relevant scientific community. That makes it hard for new methods to be used before they gain widespread support. Daubert changes the gatekeeping role: the judge evaluates the method’s reliability using an evidence-based approach, looking at factors like whether the method is testable, has been peer reviewed, has known error rates, and relies on standards, among other considerations. This criteria-driven process allows newer, well-founded techniques to be admitted even if they haven’t achieved broad general acceptance yet. Because of that, Daubert is the more flexible, evidence-based gatekeeping standard.