Goldsmiths - University of London

Professor Tim Valentine

BSc PhD CPsychol CSci FBPsS

Eyewitness testimony & identification, face recognition, memory of proper names

Research interests

My research is about our ability to recognise and identify people’s faces. Most of my research is focussed eyewitness identification. Previously, I have worked extensively on 'face-space' models of face recognition, with emphasis on the roles of facial distinctiveness, race and caricature. Other projects have included work on rehabilitation of face memory after brain injury and exploring the structure of our knowledge for people we know. I regularly provide expert advice on identification issues in criminal cases.

Recent projects:

• Street identifications and there role in the criminal justice system. (In collaboration with Prof Amina Memon, University of Aberdeen, and Andrew Roberts, University of Warwick.)
• Enhancing the effectiveness of video identification. (In collaboration with Prof Amina Memon, University of Aberdeen.)
• Evaluation of a genetic algorithm-based system to generate facial composites from witnesses. (In collaboration with Dr Chris Solomon, University of Kent.)
• Identification of faces from CCTV. (In collaboration with Dr Josh Davis, University of Greenwich.)

Selected publications

Valentine, T., Davis, J. P., Thorner, K., Solomon, C., & Gibson, S. (in press). Evolving and combining facial composites: Between-witness and within-witness morphs compared. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied

Thompson, P., Anstis, S., Rhodes, G., Jeffery, L. & Valentine, T. ( 2009). Thompson’s 1980 paper. Perception, 38, 921– 932

Valentine, T. & Mesout, J. (2009). Eyewitness identification under stress in the London Dungeon. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23, 151-161.

Davis, J. & Valentine, T. (2009). CCTV on trial: Matching video images with the defendant in the dock. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23, 482-505.

Powell, J., Letson, S.,  Davidoff, J., Valentine, T and Greenwood, R. (2008). Enhancement of face recognition learning in patients with brain injury using three cognitive training procedures. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 18,182-203.

Darling, S., Valentine, T., and  Memon, A. (2008). Selection of lineup foils in operational contexts. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 22, 159-169.

Valentine, T., Darling, S., and  Memon, A. (2007) Do strict rules and moving images increase the reliability of sequential identification procedures? Applied Cognitive Psychology, 21, 933-949.

Stone, A. & Valentine, T. (2007). The categorical structure of knowledge for famous people (and a novel application of Centre-Surround Theory). Cognition, 104, 535-564.

Darling, S. & Valentine T. (2005). The categorical structure of semantic memory for famous people: A new approach using release from proactive interference. Cognition, 96, 35-65.

Stone, A. & Valentine, T. (2004). Better the Devil You Know? Non-conscious processing of identify and affect of famous persons. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11, 469-474.

Valentine, T., Darling, S. & Donnelly, M. (2004). Why are average faces attractive? The effect of view and averageness on the attractiveness of female faces. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11, 482-487.

Valentine, T., Pickering, A. & Darling, S. (2003). Characteristics of eyewitness identification that predict the outcome of real lineups. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 17, 969-993

Hollis, J. & Valentine, T. (2001). Proper name processing: Are proper names pure referencing expressions? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory & Cognition, 27, 99-116.

Grants & awards

Valentine, T., Memon, A. & Roberts, A.  Street identifications and there role in the criminal justice system. The Nuffield Foundation. £93,000  (Sept. 2006).

Valentine, T. & Memon, A. Enhancing the effectiveness of video identification. The Nuffield Foundation. £104,000  (Sept. 2003).

Valentine, T. Solomon, C., VisionMetric Ltd. & Kent County Constabulary. Significant witness identification support system. EPSRC. £51,567 (Sept 2003).

See my personal Web pages for a full list of research publications and some downloadable manuscripts.