Dr Thea Vanags

Biography

Thea is a lecturer in psychology. Her primary research area is verbal overshadowing, an area of applied memory research relating to eyewitness testimony. Her expertise and interests are in the area of eyewitness testimony and long-term memory.  Before studying psychology, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Computing Studies and worked as a computer programmer and IT consultant for 10 years.

Teaching Areas

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Psychology 102
  • Physiological Psychology

Research Interests

  • Verbal overshadowing
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Applied memory issues
  • Hemispheric lateralisation

Selected Publications and Presentations

Vanags, T., & Carroll, M. (submitted to Psychological Science). About face! Reversing processing orientation for faces.

Donald, I., & Vanags, T. (under review with Applied Psychology: An International Review). Contriving emotions: The role of emotional intelligence in perceptions of authenticity.

Vanags, T. (2009). About Face! Reversing the direction of the processing shift in the verbal overshadowing paradigm. Paper accepted for the 8th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research on Memory and Cognition (SARMAC), July 26 – 30, Kyoto, Japan.

Vanags, T. (2008). Verbal overshadowing: Understanding the phenomenon does make a difference. Poster presented at the 43rd APS Annual Conference, September 23 – 27, Hobart, Australia.

Vanags, T., Carroll, M. & Perfect, T. J. (2005). Verbal overshadowing: A sound theory in voice recognition? Applied Cognitive Psychology, 19, 1127-1144.

Vanags, T. (Jan 2005). Verbal overshadowing: A sound theory in voice recognition? Paper presented to the 6th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research on Memory and Cognition (SARMAC), Wellington, NZ.

Media Interviews

Print

Briggs, S. (2009, 40th Anniversary Special Edition). Deciphering the many faces of crime.
Monitor, p. 20.

Skilton, N. (2009, 1 February). The face behind the crime. The Canberra Times, p.14.

Hobson, K. (2007, 2 September). Memory workout. The Canberra Times, Relax p.14.

Television Broadcast

Vanags, T. (Interviewee). (2009, 30 January). WIN News: Eyewitness identification. Canberra: WIN Television.

Radio (live and pre-recorded)

Vanags, T. (Interviewee). (2009, 10 February). Eyewitness: As plain as the nose on your face. On Life Matters with Richard Aedy. Sydney: ABC Radio National. Website:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2009/2484611.htm

Vanags, T. (2009, 29 January). Eyewitness identification. On Drive with Louise Maher. Canberra: 666 ABC Radio.

Vanags, T. (2009, 29 January). Welsh, M. (Interviewer). Eyewitness identification. Canberra: Radio 1206 2CC.

Vanags, T. (2009, 29 January). Eyewitness identification. Canberra: Radio FM 104.7.

Vanags, T. (2009, 29 January). Eyewitness identification. Sydney: ABC Radio National.

Professional Qualifications & Memberships

  • Member – Australian Psychological Society
  • Member – Society for Applied Research on Memory and Cognition (SARMAC)
  • Deputy Chair, University of Canberra Committee for Ethics in Human Research

Research Grants and Awards

  • 2009 - $1500 UC Travel Grant to attend SARMAC 2009
  • 2009 – Faculty of Health Unit Convener Award for Teaching Excellence
  • 2009 – Faculty of Health Team Award for Teaching Excellence
  • ANU PhD research grant of $2,000
  • 2003-2007 ANU PhD scholarship