Dr Hayley Cullen
Adjunct Associate Lecturer
School of Psychology
- Email:hayley.cullen@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4921 2083
Career Summary
Biography
Overview
After submitting my PhD thesis in 2020, I moved to the University of Newcastle as an Associate Lecturer in the School of Psychology. Prior to this, I worked as a casual academic and research assistant in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney, and as a lecturer at the Australian College of Applied Psychology in Sydney. I have experience as a lecturer, tutor, and course coordinator in several undergraduate and honours level courses. I am dedicated to enriching the student experience and providing students with skills that they can apply beyond university in their professional careers.
My research lies at the intersection between psychology and law. Many of the factors that are most common in cases of wrongful convictions - where individuals have been convicted of crimes they did not commit - are psychological in nature, such as mistaken eyewitness identification and false confessions. I am passionate about conducting innovative psycho-legal research that has the potential to improve legal procedures and prevent miscarriages of justice like these from occurring. I am also passionate about conducting research that can improve victims' access to justice.
Research
My main research interests include:
- Identifying the factors that affect eyewitness recall or identification accuracy
- Exploring the impact of misinformation in eyewitness settings
- Identifying public perceptions of psycho-legal phenomena
- Evaluating the implementation of evidence-based policing in Australia
- Improving research methodologies in forensic psychology
- Identifying the factors that affect juror decision-making and memory
My research has included a number of diverse forensic populations, including child witnesses, lawyers, correctional officers, and police officers. My research has featured in podcasts and newspaper articles, on television, and in legal cases.
Teaching
I am currently involved in the following courses:
- PSYC1800: Sex, Drugs and Serial Killers: Course Coordinator
- PSYC4200: Pre-professional Psychological Interviewing and Assessment: Lecturer - Forensic Psychology
- PSYC2800: Special Topics in Psychology: Module Manager - Eyewitness Memory
- PSYC3800: Advanced Special Topics in Psychology: Module Manager - Expert Evidence
- PSYC1010: Psychology Introduction 1: Lecturer - Personality
- PSYC3001: Advanced Psychological Measurement: Lecturer - Forensic Assessment
Administration
Currently, I am the Outreach Coordinator for the School of Psychological Sciences.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Science), University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Sydney
Keywords
- Attention
- Cognition
- Criminal investigation
- Criminal justice
- Eyewitness memory
- False confessions
- Investigative interviewing
- Juries
- Memory
- Policing
- Psychology and Law
- Suspects
- Victims
- Witnesses
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 520402 | Decision making | 20 |
| 520103 | Forensic psychology | 40 |
| 520404 | Memory and attention | 40 |
Professional Experience
Academic appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/6/2020 - 1/2/2021 | Lecturer | Australian College of Applied Psychology Discipline of Psychological Science Australia |
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4/2016 - 31/12/2020 | Research Assistant | University of Sydney School of Psychology Australia |
Awards
Prize
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2017 |
Monash Criminology Postgraduate Prize Monash University |
Scholarship
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2018 |
Campbell Perry International Travel Scholarship School of Psychology, University of Sydney |
Teaching
| Code | Course | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC4202 |
Applications of Psychology: Forensic Psychology Australian College of Applied Psychology |
Course Coordinator | 1/9/2020 - 1/2/2021 |
| PSYC4200 |
Pre-professional Psychological Interviewing and Assessment The University of Newcastle |
Lecturer | 1/3/2022 - 30/6/2022 |
| PSYC1001 |
Introduction to Psychology University of Sydney Topic lectured: Emotion |
Lecturer - Summer School | 8/1/2018 - 28/2/2018 |
| PSYC1001 |
Introduction to Psychology University of Sydney |
Tutor | 1/3/2018 - 30/6/2018 |
| PSYC3888 |
Interdisciplinary Project Based Unit University of Sydney Topics lectured: Research methods |
Tutor and Occasional Lecturer | 1/8/2019 - 30/11/2019 |
| PSYC3312 |
Introduction to Forensic Psychology Australian College of Applied Psychology |
Course Coordinator | 1/6/2020 - 1/9/2020 |
| PSYC1001 |
Introduction to Psychology University of Sydney Topic lectured: Forensic Psychology |
Lecturer - Summer School | 8/1/2019 - 28/2/2019 |
| PSYC1800 |
Sex, Drugs and Serial Killers School of Psychology, College of Engineering, Science, and Environment |
Course Coordinator | 1/7/2021 - 31/12/2021 |
| PSYC2300 |
Cognitive Psychology The University of Newcastle |
Lecturer | 1/3/2022 - 30/6/2022 |
| PSYC1002 |
Introduction to Psychology University of Sydney |
Tutor | 1/8/2017 - 30/11/2017 |
| CRIM2020 |
Criminal Psychology The University of Newcastle |
Course Coordinator | 22/2/2021 - 18/7/2021 |
| PSYC3020 |
Applications of Psychological Science University of Sydney |
Tutor | 1/8/2018 - 30/11/2018 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (15 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Cullen HJ, Dilevski N, Nitschke FT, Ribeiro G, Brind S, Woolley N, 'The impact of misinformation presented during jury deliberation on juror memory and decision-making.', Front Psychol, 15 1232228 (2024) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
| 2024 |
Dilevski N, Cullen HJ, van Golde C, Flowe HD, Paterson HM, Takarangi MKT, Monds LA, 'Juror Perceptions of Bystander and Victim Intoxication by Different Substances', Criminal Justice and Behavior, 51 569-587 (2024)
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| 2024 |
Cullen HJ, Paterson HM, Dutton TS, van Golde C, 'A survey of what legal populations believe and know about inattentional blindness and visual detection', PLOS ONE, 19 e0296489-e0296489 [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
| 2023 |
Cullen HJ, Paterson HM, van Golde C, 'Mock Juror Perceptions of Witness Inattentional Blindness', Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 38 263-280 (2023) [C1] It is possible that eyewitnesses may not notice crimes when focused on something else due to ¿inattentional blindness¿ (IB). However, it is unclear how witnesses who experience IB... [more] It is possible that eyewitnesses may not notice crimes when focused on something else due to ¿inattentional blindness¿ (IB). However, it is unclear how witnesses who experience IB will be perceived by jurors, and what factors may influence these perceptions. In study 1, mock jurors read a transcript of an assault crime, in which one witness noticed the assault and another witness did not (i.e. experienced IB). It was found that the witness who experienced IB was perceived as less credible than the witness who saw the crime. In study 2, the same trial was manipulated, such that the witnesses were either civilians or police officers, the witness who experienced IB was familiar with the defendant or not, and an expert witness provided testimony on IB or not. It was again found that the witness who experienced IB was perceived as less credible compared to the witness who saw the crime. Participants¿ beliefs about IB differed depending on the presence of an expert, witness role, and witness familiarity with the defendant, but these beliefs did not translate to how the IB witness was perceived. The findings highlight the negative legal implications that may arise when witnesses (particularly civilians) experience IB for a crime.
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| 2022 |
Dilevski N, Cullen H, Marsh A, Paterson H, van Golde C, ' Tell me what just happened : the effect of immediate recall on adult memory for instances of a repeated event', Psychology, Crime and Law, (2022) [C1]
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| 2022 |
Chin J, Cullen H, Clarke B, 'The prejudices of expert evidence', Monash University Law Review, 48 59-96 (2022) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
| 2022 |
Monds LA, Cullen HJ, Kloft L, Sumampouw N, van Golde C, Harrison AW, Otgaar H, 'Police perceptions of eyewitness impairment due to alcohol and other drug use: a cross-cultural comparison', Police Practice and Research, 23 34-49 (2022) [C1] Victims, witnesses, and suspects of crime are frequently intoxicated by Alcohol or Other Drugs (AOD) during the event. How intoxication is perceived by investigating officers, and... [more] Victims, witnesses, and suspects of crime are frequently intoxicated by Alcohol or Other Drugs (AOD) during the event. How intoxication is perceived by investigating officers, and the manner in which this is handled during interview procedures, can affect the quality of information obtained and therefore investigative outcomes. Various factors are likely to contribute to how intoxication is handled during the investigation of a crime, including standard procedures, familiarity with the effects of different substances, and cultural attitudes. While findings with respect to the effect of different substances on memory are still emerging, it is important to investigate whether police beliefs are consistent with available evidence. In this study, Australian and Indonesian police officers were surveyed about their perceptions of memory accuracy and credibility of victims and witnesses intoxicated with various substances (e.g. alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and opioids). A higher proportion of Australian police identified larger negative memory effects associated with alcohol intoxication. At the same time, Indonesian police were found to be more likely to report that intoxication with alcohol would make a victim or witness less credible. With regard to timing, across multiple substances, larger proportions of Australian police reported believing that information obtained from witnesses that were still intoxicated would be more accurate than if interviewed after they became sober. It is concluded that, in order to rectify misconceptions about the impact of AOD intoxication on memory and improve investigative practices, both Australian and Indonesian police would benefit from additional training on the effects of intoxication.
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| 2021 |
Cullen HJ, Adam L, van Golde C, 'Evidence-based policing in Australia: an examination of the appropriateness and transparency of lineup identification and investigative interviewing practices', International Journal of Police Science and Management, 23 85-98 (2021) [C1] Psychological research has been pivotal in influencing the way police forces globally approach and undertake criminal investigations. Increasing psychological research in recent y... [more] Psychological research has been pivotal in influencing the way police forces globally approach and undertake criminal investigations. Increasing psychological research in recent years has led to the development of best-practice guidelines for conducting police investigations, across a number of key areas of criminal investigation. For example, procedures for creating and conducting lineups as recommended by the American Psychology-Law Society, and the UK-developed PEACE model for investigative interviewing, have both been of influence in Australia. However, the extent to which these evidence-based recommendations have been incorporated into policing practice within Australia is unclear. In this article, we conducted an exploratory review of publicly available policing documents within Australian states and territories, to determine the extent to which best practice lineup identification and investigative interviewing procedures have been adopted into police practice. The review revealed that for lineup identification procedures, many of the basic recommendations for conducting lineups were not incorporated into publicly available policing manuals. For investigative interviewing, it appeared on the surface that elements of the PEACE model were implemented within most Australian jurisdictions, albeit this was often not explicitly stated within policing documents. A key issue identified was a lack of (understandable) public transparency of policing procedure, as a number of Australian jurisdictions failed to have publicly available policing manuals or handbooks against which to evaluate their procedures. Therefore, we argue that there is a need for better collaboration between researchers and law enforcement in order to achieve evidence-based, transparent policing within Australia.
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Nova | ||||||
| 2021 |
Cullen HJ, Paterson HM, van Golde C, 'Does experiencing inattentional blindness for crime influence eyewitness recall?', MEMORY, 30 206-216 (2021) [C1]
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Nova | ||||||
| 2021 |
Cullen HJ, Paterson HM, van Golde C, 'Stopping crime? The effect of crime re-enactments on eyewitness memory', Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 28 286-309 (2021) [C1] Crime re-enactments broadcast on television encourage witnesses to provide information regarding unsolved crimes. However, given that eyewitness memory can be altered through expo... [more] Crime re-enactments broadcast on television encourage witnesses to provide information regarding unsolved crimes. However, given that eyewitness memory can be altered through exposure to post-event information, it is possible that crime re-enactments may influence the memory of eyewitnesses. The current studies examined the effects of crime re-enactments on eyewitness memory. In two experiments (Experiment 1 with a distractor task, Experiment 2 without a distractor task), participants were shown one of three versions of a crime video that differed in their ambiguity. One week later half of the participants viewed a crime re-enactment. All participants then completed a guided free- and cued-recall task regarding the original event. Across both studies, exposure to the re-enactment did not improve eyewitness memory; instead, participants who viewed the re-enactment were more likely to accept the misinformation in the re-enactment. The findings shed light on potential issues with using crime re-enactments to elicit eyewitness accounts.
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| 2021 |
Monds LA, Cullen HJ, Kloft L, van Golde C, Harrison AW, Flowe H, 'Memory and credibility perceptions of alcohol and other drug intoxicated witnesses and victims of crime', Psychology, Crime and Law, (2021) [C1] Research into juror perceptions regarding the impact of intoxication on eyewitness memory and credibility is scarce for substances other than alcohol. However, jurors are frequent... [more] Research into juror perceptions regarding the impact of intoxication on eyewitness memory and credibility is scarce for substances other than alcohol. However, jurors are frequently told to draw on their personal beliefs and experience with intoxicating substances to infer their impact on the case. It is therefore important to investigate laypeople¿s perceptions regarding witness and victim intoxication across a range of substances, and whether these perceptions are associated with substance familiarity. Participants (n = 470) completed a survey assessing familiarity and use of different substances, as well as perceptions regarding effects on the memory and credibility of intoxicated victims and witnesses. While participants most frequently reported believing that alcohol, hallucinogens, and polysubstance use of alcohol and cannabis have large negative effects on memory, they more frequently reported that they do not know the extent to which cannabis and cocaine affect memory. In addition, attitudes were found to vary based on substance familiarity. Differences with respect to the perceived impact on memory and credibility of various substances can have relevance to court proceedings, particularly in terms of voir dire procedures, jury instructions, and whether an expert witness is required to educate the court on the impacts of different forms of intoxication.
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| 2020 |
Cullen HJ, Monds LA, 'Jury simulation studies: To exclude or not to exclude participants based on a lack of comprehension of the case?', APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, 34 1224-1233 (2020) [C1]
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| 2018 | van Golde C, Dilevski N, Deck SL, Cullen HJ, Paterson HM, 'One Statement at a Time: How Memory Research Can Facilitate Prosecution of Domestic and Family Violence', Police Science. Australia & New Zealand Journal of Evidence Based Policing, 3 12-17 (2018) [C1] | |||||||
| 2016 |
Edvardson S, Tian G, Cullen H, Vanyai H, Ngo L, Bhat S, et al., 'Infantile neurodegenerative disorder associated with mutations in TBCD, an essential gene in the tubulin heterodimer assembly pathway', HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS, 25 4635-4648 (2016)
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| Show 12 more journal articles | ||||||||
Conference (20 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Cullen H, Crittenden Z, Tobin E, 'Inattentional blindness and eyewitness recall: Does recall type matter?', Canberra (2023) | ||||
| 2022 |
Cullen H, Dilevski N, Nitschke F, Ribeiro G, Woolley N, Murphy E, 'Misinformation during jury deliberations: The impact on memory and decision making in sexual assault cases', Adelaide, Australia (2022)
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| 2022 |
Cullen H, Freire M, van Golde C, Adam L, Mcmullen S, 'Risk factors for false confession among Australian Indigenous Peoples', Online (2022)
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| Show 17 more conferences | |||||
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 8 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $79,612 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20223 grants / $69,562
Booster Funding$40,000
Funding body: School of Psychology, University of Sydney
| Funding body | School of Psychology, University of Sydney |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Celine van Golde, Hayley Cullen, Jane Tudor-Owen |
| Scheme | Booster Funding |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2023 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
Cross-College Research Scheme$20,262
Funding body: Cross-College Research Scheme
| Funding body | Cross-College Research Scheme |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Hayley Cullen, Natali Dilevski, Faye Nitschke |
| Scheme | Cross-College Research Scheme |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
International Strategic Investment Scheme$9,300
Funding body: College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Hayley Cullen, Dr Rachael Wynne, Dr Vanessa Beanland, Professor Ira Hyman, Professor Kristen Pammer |
| Scheme | International Strategic Investment Scheme |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20211 grants / $2,500
Lockdown support scheme$2,500
Funding body: College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Lockdown support scheme |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2021 |
| Funding Finish | 2021 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20192 grants / $6,500
Campbell Perry Research Travel Scholarship$6,000
Funding body: School of Psychology, University of Sydney
| Funding body | School of Psychology, University of Sydney |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Campbell Perry International Travel Scholarship |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
Collaborative Postgraduate Research Grant$500
Funding body: Society of Australasian Social Psychologists
| Funding body | Society of Australasian Social Psychologists |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Collaborative Postgraduate Research Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
20172 grants / $1,050
Student Research Grant$800
Funding body: Society of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
| Funding body | Society of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Student Research Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2017 |
| Funding Finish | 2017 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
Monash Criminology Postgraduate Research Prize$250
Funding body: Monash University
| Funding body | Monash University |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Monash Criminology Postgraduate Research Prize |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2017 |
| Funding Finish | 2017 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | External |
| Category | EXTE |
| UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Honours | The effect of point of attention capture and cognitive load on eyewitness memory | Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
| 2023 | Honours | The effect of auditory distractions on awareness of crime and eyewitness memory | Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
| 2023 | Masters | Does COVID-19 impact human memory and attention? | Psychology, The University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
| 2023 | Honours | Can reality monitoring be used to distinguish between true and false accounts of inattentional blindness? | Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
Past Supervision
| Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Honours | The effect of warnings and type of misinformation presented during deliberation on juror memory | Psychology, The University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
| 2022 | Honours | The effect of warnings and type of misinformation presented during deliberation on juror decision-making | Psychology, The University of Newcastle | Sole Supervisor |
| 2021 | Honours | The effect of wording in media reports on the activation of schemas and its impact on eyewitness memory | Psychology, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2021 | Honours | News as a form of post-event information: The effect of online media type and source credibility on eyewitness memory. | Psychology, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
Research Projects
Police interactions with Indigenous witnesses, victims, and suspects of crime 2021 - 2024
Australian Indigenous peoples are overrepresented in their interactions with police, either as witnesses, victims, and suspects of crimes. Psychological research has dictated best-practice procedure when interviewing witnesses, victims, and suspects. However, these best-practice procedures have typically been considered a "one-size-fits-all" approach, when there are cultural, language, contextual and systemic factors that will impact upon the interactions between police and Australian Indigenous people. In this project, we explore whether Australian police officers receive training into how to interact with Australian Indigenous people, and the adequacy of this training. We also investigate the risk of false confession among Australian Indigenous peoples when considering the different types of false confession (voluntary, coerced, internalised). We hope that the work within this project will contribute to our understanding of how to improve police training when interviewing Indigenous witnesses, victims, and suspects, to improve the quality of the information provided and reduce miscarriages of justice.
Collaborators
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Doctor Stacey Marie McMullen | University of Newcastle |
The effect of misinformation on juror memory and decision-making 2019 - 2024
Jurors have some of the biggest decisions to make in determining whether an accused person is guilty of the crime they are charged with. Jurors do make mistakes, as evidenced by wrongful convictions. For jurors to reach accurate verdicts, they must remember the complex, lengthy evidence presented at trial. Research with eyewitnesses tells us that memory can be easily distorted when witnesses are exposed to misinformation - incorrect information about the crime. One way in which witnesses encounter misinformation is through discussions with other witnesses. If we apply this to jury settings, jurors make collective decisions after discussing the case and trial facts with their fellow jurors. It therefore becomes quite possible that if jurors introduce misinformation during deliberation, that this will impact upon other jurors' memories, therefore impacting upon their impressions of the case. This body of work aims to explore the impact of misinformation on juror memory and decision-making, specifically by looking at misinformation that is presented during the deliberation. This project will allow us to determine whether the jury deliberation process really is the best way for jurors to reach verdicts in criminal cases.
Grants
Cross-College Research Scheme
Funding body: Cross-College Research Scheme
| Funding body | Cross-College Research Scheme |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Cross-College Research Scheme |
Publications
Cullen H, Dilevski N, Nitschke F, Ribeiro G, 'The effect of repeated misinformation during jury deliberation on juror memory and decision-making.', Online (2021)
Students
| Program | Research Title |
|---|---|
| Honours The University of Newcastle |
The effect of warnings and type of misinformation presented during deliberation on juror memory |
| Honours The University of Newcastle |
The effect of warnings and type of misinformation presented during deliberation on juror decision-making |
Collaborators
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Doctor Faye Terese Stott Nitschke | University of Newcastle |
| Doctor Natali Dilevski | University of Newcastle |
Inattentional blindness in legal settings 2017 - 2024
Witnesses may not notice crimes that occur right in front of them when they are paying attention to something else. Drivers may fail to notice a hazardous object on the road when they are paying attention to something else, leading to a fatality. These represent cases of inattentional blindness that have legal consequences. This project aims to investigate the implications of experiencing inattentional blindness in legal settings. Specifically, this project looks at the effects of inattentional blindness on the memory of eyewitnesses, and the way in which inattentional blindness is perceived by legal professionals and in legal settings (e.g., in criminal trials).
Grants
Student Research Grant
Funding body: Society of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
| Funding body | Society of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Student Research Grant |
International Strategic Investment Scheme
Funding body: College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle
| Funding body | College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle |
|---|---|
| Scheme | International Strategic Investment Scheme |
Publications
Cullen H, Paterson H, van Golde C, 'Juror perceptions of witness inattentional blindness during criminal trials', Melbourne, Australia (2018)
Cullen H, Paterson H, van Golde C, '"Blind" faith in experts? A systematic review on the effect of expertise and experience on inattentional blindness', Victoria, Canada (2019)
Cullen H, 'Expert testimony on inattentional blindness: Lessons from the Guyger case', Sydney, Australia (2019)
Cullen H, Paterson H, van Golde C, 'Inattentional blindness in police officers: Research challenges and future directions', Cape Cod, USA (2019)
Cullen H, Paterson H, van Golde C, 'Juror perceptions of witnesses who experience inattentional blindness for crime', Cape Cod, USA (2019)
Cullen H, 'Inattentional blindness in legal contexts', Online (2020)
Cullen HJ, Paterson HM, van Golde C, 'Does experiencing inattentional blindness for crime influence eyewitness recall?', MEMORY, 30 206-216 (2021) [C1]
Cullen H, Paterson H, van Golde C, 'What do legal populations believe about visual detection and inattentional blindness?', Online (2021)
Cullen HJ, Paterson HM, van Golde C, 'Mock Juror Perceptions of Witness Inattentional Blindness', Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 38 263-280 (2023) [C1]
The effect of exposure to misinformation on eyewitness memory 2015 - 2023
When individuals witness a crime, there is often a delay before they are officially questioned by police. During this delay, it is highly possible that witnesses will be exposed to information about the event that they had witnessed. Decades of research has shown that exposure to incorrect information ("misinformation") post-event can distort memory of the original event. Many different sources of misinformation have been identified, such as leading questions, media, and co-witnesses.
This project is multifaceted, with the following aims:
- To explore the effect of crime reenactment videos on eyewitness memory and sightings of missing/wanted persons
- To determine the effects of news as a form of post-event information on eyewitness memory
- To investigate the features of discussions with co-witnesses that may impact upon memory conformity
Grants
Monash Criminology Postgraduate Research Prize
Funding body: Monash University
| Funding body | Monash University |
|---|---|
| Scheme | Monash Criminology Postgraduate Research Prize |
Publications
Cullen H, Paterson H, van Golde C, 'Crime re-enactment videos: An eyewitness's best friend or worst enemy?', Canberra, Australia (2017)
Cullen H, Paterson H, van Golde C, 'Witnesses and the media: The effect of crime re-enactments on eyewitness recall', Sydney, Australia (2019)
Students
| Program | Research Title |
|---|---|
| Honours The University of Newcastle |
The effect of wording in media reports on the activation of schemas and its impact on eyewitness memory |
| PhD College of Engineering, Science and Environment |
Implementation and Testing of Corrective Interventions Promoting Intergroup Contact Between Young and Elderly People |
| Honours The University of Newcastle |
News as a form of post-event information: The effect of online media type and source credibility on eyewitness memory. |
Perceptions of intoxication in legal settings 2016 - 2023
Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) intoxication is increasingly common in Australia. This means that when crimes occur, it is not uncommon for the different parties involved (perpetrators, victims, and/or witnesses) to be intoxicated at the time of the event. Emerging research is starting to paint a picture of how intoxication by different substances actually influences memory of the event. However, it is also important to understand how intoxication is perceived in legal settings - such as by jurors in court - to ensure that legal decisions are fair and reflect the actual experience of the individual involved. The current project thus seeks to determine what police officers and members of the public believe about how alcohol and other drugs impact upon memory and credibility of witnesses and victims. This project also involves the use of jury simulation methods, where participants play the role of a juror, to investigate the impact of intoxication during an event on juror perceptions and decision-making.
Publications
Monds L, van Golde C, Cullen H, Kloft L, Ramaekers J, 'Intoxicated witnesses - what are police views on memory reliability and credibility? An international comparison of alcohol and other substances.', Cape Cod, USA (2019)
Monds LA, Cullen HJ, Kloft L, Sumampouw N, van Golde C, Harrison AW, Otgaar H, 'Police perceptions of eyewitness impairment due to alcohol and other drug use: a cross-cultural comparison', Police Practice and Research, 23 34-49 (2022) [C1]
Edit
Dr Hayley Cullen
Position
Adjunct Associate Lecturer
School of Psychological Sciences
School of Psychology
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
| hayley.cullen@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | (02) 4921 2083 |
Office
| Room | W251 - Callaghan SO119 - Ourimbah |
|---|---|
| Building | Behavioural Sciences - Callaghan Science Offices - Ourimbah |
| Location | Callaghan Ourimbah University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |
