Legitimacy, Deservingness, and Entitlement: Studies in Social Justice. This research program aims to clarify the variables that affect whether authorities are seen to be legitimate or otherwise, and the conditions under which people are perceived to be entitled to benefits or to deserve either positive or negative treatment. We will also examine how personal and social values affect these kinds of judgments, and how judgments of legitimacy, deservingness and entitlement are related. The resear ....Legitimacy, Deservingness, and Entitlement: Studies in Social Justice. This research program aims to clarify the variables that affect whether authorities are seen to be legitimate or otherwise, and the conditions under which people are perceived to be entitled to benefits or to deserve either positive or negative treatment. We will also examine how personal and social values affect these kinds of judgments, and how judgments of legitimacy, deservingness and entitlement are related. The research program will advance theoretical understanding about social justice in a variety of contexts (eg., organizations, law, government, family). It will also have practical outcomes by suggesting ways of exercising authority that are seen as both effective and fair.Read moreRead less
Repeated questions in children's event recall: Testing competing explanations. One of the threats to a healthy start in life for Australian children, and one which imposes substantial financial and emotional cost on the Australian community, is child abuse and neglect. This project addresses a key stumbling block in obtaining evidence from child victims/witnesses - their tendency to give inconsistent testimony under repeated questioning. It seeks to understand the conditions under which inconsis ....Repeated questions in children's event recall: Testing competing explanations. One of the threats to a healthy start in life for Australian children, and one which imposes substantial financial and emotional cost on the Australian community, is child abuse and neglect. This project addresses a key stumbling block in obtaining evidence from child victims/witnesses - their tendency to give inconsistent testimony under repeated questioning. It seeks to understand the conditions under which inconsistency is minimized, as a basis for developing empirically and theoretically based ways to optimise the accuracy and legal utility of children's testimony. Read moreRead less
The distortion of eyewitness identification testimony. A fair and efficient criminal justice system is important. This project will contribute to the continually expanding knowledge base required for improving the collection and use of eyewitness identification testimony. Ultimately, the adoption of principles suggested by this knowledge base will improve the validity and probative value of eyewitness evidence. This will advance the already significant contribution that Australian psychological ....The distortion of eyewitness identification testimony. A fair and efficient criminal justice system is important. This project will contribute to the continually expanding knowledge base required for improving the collection and use of eyewitness identification testimony. Ultimately, the adoption of principles suggested by this knowledge base will improve the validity and probative value of eyewitness evidence. This will advance the already significant contribution that Australian psychological science is providing for the administration of criminal justice. Read moreRead less
Occupant comfort, cognitive performance and task performance in wind-excited tall buildings. Strong winds are sensitive to climate change and highly unpredictable, critically affecting the design of tall buildings and our built environment. The outcomes of this research will revolutionalise current design approach for occupant comfort in wind-excited tall buildings and deliver a new generation of tall buildings that provides a comfortable living and working environment without a degradation of w ....Occupant comfort, cognitive performance and task performance in wind-excited tall buildings. Strong winds are sensitive to climate change and highly unpredictable, critically affecting the design of tall buildings and our built environment. The outcomes of this research will revolutionalise current design approach for occupant comfort in wind-excited tall buildings and deliver a new generation of tall buildings that provides a comfortable living and working environment without a degradation of work performance due to wind-induced vibration. The transfer of this knowledge from research to practice will enhance the international competitiveness of our architecture, engineering and construction professionals, boosting our involvement in major tall building projects worldwide and bringing long-term economical benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Deservingness and emotions. The project will address a key neglected area in the psychology of emotion, namely on how different emotions relate to perceptions that outcomes such as success or failure are deserved or undeserved. It will add to leadership on this issue and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation for research on social justice and deservingness. The project will have implications for applied areas of national significance that include health-related issues and issues concern ....Deservingness and emotions. The project will address a key neglected area in the psychology of emotion, namely on how different emotions relate to perceptions that outcomes such as success or failure are deserved or undeserved. It will add to leadership on this issue and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation for research on social justice and deservingness. The project will have implications for applied areas of national significance that include health-related issues and issues concerned with national safety, given the fact that emotions like sympathy can determine helping behaviour, and emotions like resentment can trigger revenge and conflict.Read moreRead less
Checking the validity of photographic identification documents: Enhancing the performance of security personnel through increased understanding of unfamiliar face processing. The ability to accurately establish the identity of an individual is central to the national security of Australia. Identity checking often relies on facial photographs contained on passports and other documents. Despite the introduction of automated systems, the decision whether a photograph is of a person rests with human ....Checking the validity of photographic identification documents: Enhancing the performance of security personnel through increased understanding of unfamiliar face processing. The ability to accurately establish the identity of an individual is central to the national security of Australia. Identity checking often relies on facial photographs contained on passports and other documents. Despite the introduction of automated systems, the decision whether a photograph is of a person rests with human operators. Research by CI has demonstrated that this task is difficult and error prone. The proposed research seeks to improve performance by developing a fuller understanding of the nature of the task and the limits of the operators' abilities and by testing possible training and selection procedures.Read moreRead less
How do we seek justice after hurt, offence or terror? Retributive and restorative responses. The project will address a neglect of the concept of restorative justice in psychology. It will add to the leadership on this issue of Australian researchers from other disciplines and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation in this field. The project will determine when people are motivated to use restorative justice. Hence, it will contribute to the effective implementation of restorative justic ....How do we seek justice after hurt, offence or terror? Retributive and restorative responses. The project will address a neglect of the concept of restorative justice in psychology. It will add to the leadership on this issue of Australian researchers from other disciplines and contribute to Australia's worldwide reputation in this field. The project will determine when people are motivated to use restorative justice. Hence, it will contribute to the effective implementation of restorative justice practices, for them to be considered legitimate and able to contribute to the reduction of crime, to reconciliation after conflict and international peace. The research seeks to make a contribution to a safer, more cohesive Australia and inform its missions for conflict resolution (in the region) and thus reduce causes of terrorism.Read moreRead less
When and why forgiveness promotes justice. Responding to victimisation with forgiveness has been credited with many positive effects; for individual victims in terms of their mental health, for the maintenance of social relationships, as well as for the reconciliation between larger groups after conflict. This research project will identify processes and conditions that make forgiveness more conducive to victims' sense of justice, and thus a more satisfying and effective response option. Next to ....When and why forgiveness promotes justice. Responding to victimisation with forgiveness has been credited with many positive effects; for individual victims in terms of their mental health, for the maintenance of social relationships, as well as for the reconciliation between larger groups after conflict. This research project will identify processes and conditions that make forgiveness more conducive to victims' sense of justice, and thus a more satisfying and effective response option. Next to advancing Australia's scholarship in this vibrant research field, the findings will help administrators give victims a sense of justice while repairing interpersonal and intergroup relations important for a healthy social fabric.Read moreRead less
Antisocial behaviour in young Australian adults: Social and economic influences. Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs. Currently, much of the crime prevention research has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood and adolescence through into young adulthood in the Australian context. By better understanding how factors such as unemployment, ....Antisocial behaviour in young Australian adults: Social and economic influences. Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs. Currently, much of the crime prevention research has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood and adolescence through into young adulthood in the Australian context. By better understanding how factors such as unemployment, alcohol-related entertainment, and sporting participation influence antisocial behaviour in young adulthood, prevention and early intervention programs can be developed to target specific subgroups. In this way spending on criminal justice systems can be reduced and a safer, more harmonious community can be fostered.Read moreRead less
What factors influence the development of antisocial behaviour in Australian adolescents? Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs on our communities. Once entrenched, antisocial behaviour and related problems often continue throughout life. Currently, much of the research in this area has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood to adolescence ....What factors influence the development of antisocial behaviour in Australian adolescents? Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs on our communities. Once entrenched, antisocial behaviour and related problems often continue throughout life. Currently, much of the research in this area has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood to adolescence in the Australian context. By better understanding how antisocial behaviour develops, prevention and early intervention programs can be developed to target specific subgroups. In this way spending on juvenile and adult criminal justice systems can be reduced and a safer, more harmonious community can be fostered.Read moreRead less