Lead Researchers

I am interested in the following areas of jury decision-making:

- The influence of gender- and ethnicity-based stereotypes on evaluations of defendants, victims, and experts, particularly how these stereotypes influence thinking about case evidence;

- The influence of different modes of evidence presentation on the evaluation of witnesses and defendants, especially in terms of comparing video presentation to other formats;

- The impact of demeanor evidence on evaluations of witness believability; the influence of jury deliberation on verdicts; and perceptions of sentencing adequacy.

I am also interested in group membership and attitude-behaviour relations, especially in relation to the role of group membership in the arousal and reduction of cognitive dissonance.

Finally I am interested in the ways in which group membership impacts on thinking about the self; this area is primarily focused on how group membership influences coping with stress.

Prejudice and discrimination generally with a current focus on the impact of schemas in legal decision-making with regard to allegations of sexual assault.

Recruitment and retention of whole blood and blood product donors, with a focus both on theory building and applied interventions.

My three key areas of interest are:

- Jury decision-making surrounding child witnesses, particularly in terms of jurors’ use of stereotypes and the effects of video testimony.

- Perceptions of procedural justice and legitimacy in policing within the context of applied interventions. Related to this, I also have a developing interest in policing partnerships and how social psychological factors may play a role in determining the effectiveness and cooperativeness of those involved in these partnerships.

- The impact of community on perceptions of risk and disaster preparedness.