Dr Georgina Gous

I am a cognitive psychologist who is particularly interested in voice recognition and speaker perception. My PhD and present research focuses on whether manipulating certain characteristics of the voice (specifically fundamental frequency, F0, and speech rate) can effect recognition performance, and perceived identity, sex, and age of the voice. I am particularly interested in the forensic applications of my work and how the findings might have implications for how errors arise during earwitness testimony for a suspect’s voice. I am currently working on papers relating to these issues.

I am also working on projects examining the effectiveness of witness preparation techniques on witness accuracy and confidence. I am currently involved in work investigating the use of different leading questioning styles during cross-examination in court.

I am currently working at the University of Lincoln where i am a lecturer. Before that I was working as a research assistant at Nottingham Trent University , for Dr Duncan Guest, on a project that aims to improve the safety of mobility scooter users by developing a hazard perception training DVD. The work involves identifying hazards that mobility scooter users face and how they mitigate against these.

A sample of publications and presentations can be found below:

Published peer reviewed papers

2019

Gous, G., Dunn, A.K., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P. (2018). An Exploration of The Accentuation Effect: Errors in Memory for Voice Fundamental Frequency (F0) and Speech Rate.Language, Cognition and Neuroscience, 33(1), 98-110. doi: 10.1080/23273798.2017.136867

Papers under review.

Gous, G., & Guest, D. (under review). A case for the use of a training intervention designed to improve hazard perception awareness in motorised mobility scooter users. Accident, Analysis and Prevention
Gous, G., & Wheatcroft, J. (under review). Effectiveness of witness preparation techniques on witness accuracy: It’s not just the vulnerable who are susceptible to leading. Behavioral Sciences and the Law

Conferences and Presentations

2017

Gous, G., Dunn, A., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P. (2017, August). Errors in memory for disguised speech. Presentation given as part of the Advancing Advocacy Conference, Nottingham Trent University
Gous, G., Dunn, A., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P (2017, February). The impact of variations in fundamental frequency (F0) and speech rate on speaker recognition performance. Paper presented at the External Seminar Series, Nottingham Trent University

2016

Gous, G., Dunn, A., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P. (2016, September). The impact of variations in fundamental frequency (F0) and speech rate on speaker recognition performance. Paper presented at EMUA conference, Loughborough University
Gous, G., Dunn, A., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P. (2016, May). Speaker recognition performance is reasonably robust to variations in speech rate, however, variations in fundamental frequency (F0) are more disruptive to memory. Paper presented at the Division of Psychology PhD Conference, Nottingham Trent University

2015

Gous, G., Dunn, A., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P. (2015, September). The effect of variations in fundamental frequency (F0) and speech rate on speaker recognition memory using a synthesised voice sample. Poster presented at 32nd Annual BPS Cognitive Psychology Section Conference, University of Kent, Canterbury

2014

Gous, G., Dunn, A., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P. (2014, September). Earwitness memory: Factors that influence speaker recognition accuracy across the lifespan. Poster presented at 31st Annual BPS Cognitive Psychology Section Conference, Nottingham Trent University
Gous, G., Dunn, A., Baguley, T., & Stacey, P. (2014, March). Factors that influence speaker recognition accuracy and their forensic applications. Presentation given as part of the Psychology Department Internal Seminar Series, Nottingham Trent University