TECHNICAL NOTE Technical note: A report on the Forensic Anthropology Database for Assessing Methods Accuracy Chelsey A. Juarez 1 | Cris E. Hughes 2 | An-Di Yim 3 1 Department of Anthropology, California State University Fresno, Peters Business Building Room 385, 5245 North Backer Avenue, M/S PB16, Fresno, CA, 93740-8001 2 Department of Anthropology, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 109 Davenport Hall 607 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801 3 Department of Anthropology 109 Davenport Hall, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 607 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801 Correspondence Chelsey A. Juarez, Department of Anthropology, College of Social Sciences, Peters Business Building Room 385, 5245 North Backer Avenue, M/S PB16, California State University Fresno, Fresno, Ca 93740- 8001. Email: chelseyjuarez@mail.fresnostate.edu Funding information National Institute of Justice, Grant/Award Number: DOJ DUBX0213 Abstract We report on the functionality, available support, and research capability of the Forensic Anthropology Database for Assessing Methods Accuracy (FADAMA; DOJ DUBX0213). FADAMA is an online repository for case data from identified forensic skeletal cases. The goal of FADAMA is to address the lack of adequate measures for assessing accuracy and reliability of forensic anthropology methods. FADAMA requires users to apply for access with their university or organization credentials. Verified users may upload and download anonymized case data via the user interface, after signing a terms of service agreement outlining ethical behavior. Case data uploads require information about the actual biological profile of the decedent and the forensic anthropology estimations. Uploading case data takes approximately 15–25 min. FADAMA users currently have 85 methods to select from when entering case data, with the capability to add new methods as they are developed. Access to the database is free, and online video tutorials are available for users covering data- base functionality. Currently, the database houses anonymized case data for over 350 identified cases from across the U.S. Funding has been allocated for a database technician to assist offices with large caseloads to upload cases. As it stands, the database is easy to use, and maintains thoughtful tools to assist users. The power of the database to identify trends in both method accuracy and usage is apparent, and will continue to grow as more cases are added. KEYWORDS case database, forensic anthropology, methods The Forensic Anthropology Database for Assessing Methods Accu- racy (FADAMA; DOJ DUBX0213) is an online repository for data from identified skeletal cases for research purposes. The goal of FADAMA is to address the persistent lack of adequate measures for assessing accuracy and reliability of forensic anthropology methods when applied in the casework context. Tracking the per- formance of biological profile estimation methods in the context of a single office or lab is difficult, and does not reveal trends for the field as a whole. Such work requires a large number of cases in which the biological profile of the decedent is confirmed. FADAMA is a free, virtual, communal repository for tracking forensic anthro- pological method use and outcomes data from actual, identified casework. FADAMA provides the first formal, organized space for the forensic anthropology community to share approaches to case- work and casework outcomes. FADAMA was initiated by members of the Society of Forensic Anthropologists (SOFA; www.sofa.org), who support its continued development and hosting of the FADAMA website (https://www- app.igb.illinois.edu/sofadb/faq.php). FADAMA's case data repository promotes research on casework trends by including data on case report accuracy rates, method-specific accuracy rates, method use tracking, casework decedent demographics, and bias prevalence. The ability to collectively track, study, and self-assess casework practices at a discipline-wide level has tremendous value to the field of forensic Received: 1 June 2020 Revised: 4 October 2020 Accepted: 10 October 2020 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24167 Am J Phys Anthropol. 2020;1–2. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ajpa © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC 1