Do Fictional Forensic and Criminal Investigation Television Shows Influence Students' Enrollment Decisions?

Research on 'the CSI effect' is accumulating and accounts for a substantive body of knowledge not just in the United States of America, but also elsewhere in the world. The paper investigates one aspect of the CSI effect whereby university faculties offering forensic or criminal investigative curricula are seeing an increase in the number of students enrolling. A research study was conducted on first-year students of the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security (Slovenia) in which they were directly asked to state the extent to which TV series and films influenced their enrollment decision. The results indicate that some students were motivated by TV series and films, although more detailed statistical inquiries only provide partial and limited support for such claims. Therefore, a more in-depth research study is required to provide better insights into this dimension of the CSI effect.