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Professor Fiona Gabbert

Fiona is an expert in applied cognitive psychology, studying the reliability of human memory via understanding its strengths and weaknesses.

Staff details

Professor Fiona Gabbert

Position

Professor and Director of Goldsmiths' Forensic Psychology Unit

Department

Psychology

Email

f.gabbert (@gold.ac.uk)

Summary

Fiona is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Forensic Psychology Unit at Goldsmiths. She also chairs the Scientific Committee of the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group (iIIRG), and acts as Associate Editor for the academic journal 'Memory'. Fiona has an international reputation for her research on the suggestibility of memory and investigative interviewing, that has had an international impact on police operational procedure and policy. She is currently working with the United Nations advising on the development of a Universal Protocol on investigative interviewing. Her work has been recognised by awards for Academic Excellence, Mid-Career Excellence, and Public Engagement.

Grants and Awards

Fiona has received external grant funding from a variety of organisations to support her work including: ESRC, CREST, Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, the Carnegie Trust, the College of Policing, and the BIAL Foundation.

Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange

Fiona is committed to the public understanding of research, as evidenced by frequent ambitious Public Engagement activities undertaken by the Forensic Psychology Unit. These include award-winning educational immersive theatre events that have attracted 1000s of members of the public to Goldsmiths (see https://www.gold.ac.uk/forensic-psychology-unit/). Some other examples include:
• Organising seminars, panel discussions, and a range of research events designed to connect the wider public with relevant research conducted by members of the Forensic Psychology Unit and the Forensic and Clinical Science Group.
• Providing seminars and research consultancy to organisations to facilitate knowledge-exchange.
• Engaging in public-facing events including festivals, lectures, school events, and panel discussions.
• Engaging with the media, including television, radio, and press interviews.

Publications and research outputs

Edited Book

Book Section

  • Training in Investigative Interviewing: observations and challenges St-Yves, M; Griffiths, A; Cyr, M; Gabbert, Fiona; Carmans, M; Sellie, C; Bruneau, G and Powell, M. 2014. Training in Investigative Interviewing: observations and challenges. In: M St-Yves and A Griffiths, eds. Investigative Interviewing: The Essential Handbook of best practices. Canada: Carswell, pp. 245-269. ISBN 978-0-7798-6273-3
  • Suggestibility in Legal Contexts: What do we know? Ridley, Anne; Gabbert, Fiona and La Rooy, David. 2013. Suggestibility in Legal Contexts: What do we know? In: Anne Ridley; Fiona Gabbert and David La Rooy, eds. Suggestibility in Legal Contexts: Psychological Research and Forensic Implications. London: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 217-226. ISBN 978-0470663684
  • Suggestibility and memory conformity Gabbert, Fiona and Hope, Lorraine. 2013. Suggestibility and memory conformity. In: Anne Ridley; Fiona Gabbert and David La Rooy, eds. Suggestibility in Legal Contexts: Psychological Research and Forensic Implications. London: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 63-84. ISBN 978-0470663684

Article

Conference or Workshop Item

Report

Research Interests

Fiona's research has a strong focus on improving the usability, credibility, and reliability of evidence from witnesses. This has led to the introduction of new evidence-based investigative interview tools and training resources to the field, such as the Self-Administered Interview, the Structured Interview Protocol, and the Timeline Technique. Key areas of interest are listed below.

• Eyewitness memory
• Investigative interviewing
• Facilitating recall
• Building trust and rapport
• Metacognition
• Suggestibility of memory
• Social influences on memory
• Memory conformity