Drawings as a method for eliciting information and magnifying cues to deceit

ESRC South Coast Doctoral Partnership (SCDTP) funded. Project code: PSYC4290118

Project in brief

Developing interview styles that elicit differing responses between truth tellers and liars is now at the forefront of verbal deception research. Tools that, apart from eliciting cues to deceit, also elicit information are particularly useful as they then achieve both the required aims of an investigative interview: To elicit information and facilitate lie detection. Sketching while narrating has potential to achieve both these aims. Sketching facilitates memory recall and should thus facilitate those with the richest memory trace the most (i.e. truth tellers). The project will include a series of experiments in which the effects of sketching while narrating will be examined.


Specific research objectives:

To systematically explore the effect of a request to sketch on eliciting information and cues to deceit by examining whether (i) sketching while narrating enhances differences between truth tellers and liars in the amount of information they provide and (ii) whether sketches produced by truth tellers and liars differ from each other.


Specific candidate requirements:

The student will design the experiments with us and will be responsible for running the experiments, coding the sketches and narratives using existing coding protocols, analysing the data, and reporting the findings. The student should be competent in designing experimental studies and in both multivariate data analysis and qualitative methods of data analysis. The student should have good writing skills and good interpersonal skills for engaging and recruiting participants, and communicating with other PhD students and end-users.

For all funding, students must have qualifications of the standard of a good honours degree at first or upper second-class level, from a UK academic higher education institution. Degree qualifications gained from outside the UK, or a combination of qualifications and/or experience that is equivalent to a relevant UK degree, may be accepted.

How to Apply

Before you apply, please make sure you meet the candidate specification.

Candidates do not need to submit a project proposal, however are required to submit a 500 word personal statement to include:

-Details of how your skills and interests match the project
-Background and previous experience
-Research interests

If you need to discuss this project and your application further then please contact a member of the supervision team as listed below, in advance of the deadline dates:
Professor Aldert Vrij – [Email Address Removed]
Dr Zarah Vernham – [Email Address Removed]
Dr Galit Nahari - [Email Address Removed]


There are two stages to the application process:

(1) The first application form you need to complete is for your chosen programme of study at the University of Portsmouth.

Apply to the University of Portsmouth through our standard online application form and follow the instructions given under the ’Research Degrees’ heading on the following webpages before you submit your SCDTP application: http://www.port.ac.uk/application-fees-and-funding/applying-postgraduate/#rd

When applying to the University of Portsmouth, you will need to enter project code - PSYC4290118


(2) The second application form which requires completion is the South Coast DTP Funding Application Form. There are two versions of this form which can be downloaded. In accordance with the SCDTP guidance, please ensure you use the correct form (in this case the ’South Coast DTP Project Specific Application Form’).

The ’South Coast DTP Project Specific Application Form’, and more information on the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership can be found at: http://southcoastdtp.ac.uk/apply/

You will then need to submit both your university and funding application to the SCDTP by Monday 25th June 2018 (4pm) .

For more detailed information about the project, please see the university webpage: http://www.port.ac.uk/postgraduate-research/psychology/