Dr Thea Vanags

Biography

Thea is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the Centre for Applied Psychology.  She is a cognitive psychologist whose primary area of research area is memory. Her PhD was on verbal overshadowing, an area of applied memory research relating to eyewitness testimony. Her expertise and interests include memory, eyewitness testimony and physiological psychology. 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
  • Physiological Psychology
  • Psychology 102

Research Interests

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

Selected Publications

Semrad, M., Vanags, T., & Bhullar, N.  (under review Police Practice and Research: An International Journal). Selecting witness protection officers: Developing a test battery for Australian police.

Vanags, T., George, A. M., Grace, D. M., & Brown, P. M. (in press, Jun 2011). Bingo! An Engaging Activity for Learning Physiological Terms in Psychology. Teaching of Psychology.

Donald, I., & Vanags, T. (under review, Applied Psychology: An International Review, Sept 2009). Contriving emotions: The role of emotional intelligence in perceptions of authenticity.

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

Selected Presentations

Semrad, M., Vanags, T, & Bhullar, N. (2010). The reliability of a test for Witness Protection Officers. Poster accepted for the 9th SARMAC Conference, June 27 – 30, New York.

Vanags, T. (2010). Engaging ways to master difficult terminology. Paper presented at the University Learning and Teaching Futures Conference, Sept 8-9, Armidale, Australia.

George, A. M., & Vanags, T. (2010). Psychology in an online format: Identified challenges and solutions.  Paper presented at the University Learning and Teaching Futures Conference, Sept 8-9, Armidale, Australia.

Semrad, M., & Vanags, T. (2010). Selecting witness protection officers: Developing a test battery for Australian Police. Paper presented at the Australian & New Zealand Police Advisory Agency Witness Protection Conference, July 14-15, Melbourne, Australia.

Vanags, T. & Carroll, M. (2009). About Face! Reversing the direction of the processing shift in the verbal overshadowing paradigm. Paper presented at the 8th SARMAC Conference, July 26 – 30, Kyoto, Japan.

Vanags, T. (2009). What is special about my teaching? Invited presentation at the Faculty of Health Learning and Teaching Showcase, December 3, Canberra, Australia.

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

Vanags, T., & Carroll, M. (2005). Verbal overshadowing in voice recognition. Paper presented at the 6th Society for Applied Research on Memory and Cognition Conference, January 5–8, 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 & Other Appointments

  • PhD: Australian National University
  • Bachelor of Applied Psychology (Hons): University of Canberra
  • Bachelor of Arts in Computing Studies: University of Canberra

  • 2010 – 2011 Chair, Committee for Ethics in Human Research, University of Canberra
  • 2008– 2009 Deputy Chair, Committee for Ethics in Human Research, University of Canberra
  • 2008 General Academic member, Committee for Ethics in Human Research, University of Canberra

  • Member, Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  • Member, Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC)
  • Member, Association for Psychological Science (APS)
  • Member, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)
  • Member, Teaching, Learning and Psychology Interest Group (TLaPIG)

Grants

  • ALTC Extension Grant (2011, Chief Investigator). Bringing peer review of teaching out of the closet: A project to encourage and support greater participation in peer review of teaching at the University of Canberra. ($5,000).
  • Australian National University (2006), PhD candidate researcher’s grant ($2000)

Awards

  • Australian Learning & Teaching Council (2010), Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
  • University of Canberra (2010), University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence for an Early Career Academic
  • University of Canberra (2009), University of Canberra Unit Satisfaction Survey Recognition Award
  • University of Canberra (2009), Faculty of Health Unit Convener Award for Teaching Excellence.
  • University of Canberra (2009), Faculty of Health Team Award for Teaching Excellence (implementation and delivery of Psychology 101 online with A. George and J. Neill).