Mansour, Jamal

Mansour, Jamal
Associate Professor

Psychology Department

Phone
(403) 329-2077
Email
jamal.mansour@uleth.ca

About Me

I am interested in how people make decisions about faces, particularly their memories for faces after witnessing a crime and, secondarily, in the context of friendly fire. I aim to understand the social and cognitive factors affecting these decisions and the strategies, accuracy, and confidence with which they are made.

 

I am the Principal investigator of a SSHRC-funded project on how to collect eyewitness confidence in lineup decisions in Canada and an NSERC-funded research program examining individual differences in cognition for predicting lineup decision accuracy and whether these can be measured via self-report. I am also currently collaborating on a BA/Leverhulme grant (UK) using eye tracking to examine how identification accuracy is affected by lineup size. Other research I am involved in examines lineup construction, lineup procedures, lineup fairness, the weapon focus effect, deceptive eyewitnesses, and jury decision making.

Biography

I began my academic career at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where I completed a BA (Criminology) in 2001 followed by a BSc in Psychology (Honours). I went on to work with Dr. Rod Lindsay and Dr. Kevin Munhall at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, earning my MA in Social Psychology in 2006 and my PhD in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science in 2010. My first academic position was as a Limited Term Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada from 2010 to 2013. After that I travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland where I worked as a Lecturer and then Senior Lecture in Psychology at Queen Margaret University until 2022. Since January 2022, I have been an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Lethbridge.

Current Research

BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants Scheme. (2024-2026). The effects of lineup size on eyewitness decision-making: an eye-tracking study. ₤9,883 GBP – Co-applicant.

 
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant. Measuring cognitive processes that predict eyewitness identification performance. (2024-2029). $200,000 CAD – Principal Investigator. 
 
Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Grant. Are you certain? Improving the collection, communication, and interpretation of eyewitness confidence in Canada (2023-2025). $98,995 CAD – Principal Investigator

Publications

Refereed Publications (26)

**†Pennekamp, P., Mansour, J. K., & **Batstone, R. (2026). Confidence lexicon: An evidence-based approach for interpreting eyewitness confidence. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000467

**†Töredi, D., Mansour, J. K., Jones, S. E., Skelton, F., & McIntyre, Al. (2025). Does eyewitness confidence calibration vary by target race? Behavioral Sciences, 16(2), 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16020257

Mansour, J. K., & Vallano, J. P. (2025). Making sense of confidence: Do laypeople perceive the same eyewitness confidence statement in the same way? Psychology, Crime, and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2025.2588357

Mansour, J. K., Stepan, M. E., Berkowitz, S., Peltier, C., & Fenn, K. M. (2025). An examination of eyewitness memory, decision processes, and identification accuracy using sleep. Memory, 33(7), 765-787. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2025.2514708

**Töredi, D., Mansour, J. K., Jones, S. E., S. E., Skelton, F., & McIntyre, A. (2025). Working memory capacity is related to eyewitness identification accuracy, but selective attention and need for cognition are not. Memory, 10, 1165-1179. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2025.2557956

**Töredi, D., Mansour, J. K., Jones, S. E., S. E., Skelton, F., & McIntyre, A. (2025). The impact of minority status on the cross-race effect: A Critical Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 20(6), 1033-1048. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916251345459

**†Töredi, D., Mansour, J. K., Jones, S. E., Skelton, F., & McIntyre, A. (2025). The Cross-Race Effect Inventory (CRE-I): Measuring and testing the cross-race effect. Law and Human Behaviour, 49(4), 353-375. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000609

Mansour, J.K., Beaudry, J.L., Nguyen, M-T., & Groncki, R. (2024). Eyewitness decision processes: A valid reflector variable. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 38(6), e7001. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.70001

†Lee, J., Mansour, J.K., & Penrod, S.D. (2024). How to measure filler similarity? Concurrent and predictive validity of filler-similarity measures. Psychology, Crime, and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2024.2307358

**Pennekamp, P., & Mansour, J.K., & Batstone, R. J. (2024). Variability in eyewitness confidence. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 38(2), e4190. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.4190

**Pennekamp, P., & Mansour, J.K. (2024). Laypeople’s interpretations of ‘high confidence’. Psychology, Crime, and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2024.2329707

†Baldassari, M. J., Moore, K. N., Hyman, I. E., Hope, L., Mah, E. Y., Lindsay, D. S., …Mansour, J.K., … (2023). The effect of pre-event instructions on eyewitness identification. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 8, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-023-00471-4 

Lee, J., Mansour, J.K., & Penrod, S.D. (2022). Validity of mock-witness measures for assessing lineup fairness. Psychology, Crime, and Law, 28(3), 215-245. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2021.1905811

†Horry, R., Fitzgerald, R., & Mansour, J.K. (2021). “Only your first yes will count”: The impact of pre-lineup instructions on sequential lineup decisions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 27(1), 170–186. https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000337

Mansour, J. K., Beaudry, J. L., Bertrand, M. I., Kalmet, N., Melsom, E., & Lindsay, R. C. L. (2020). Impact of disguise on identification decision and confidence with simultaneous and sequential lineups. Law and Human Behavior, 44(6), 502–515. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000427

†Mansour, J.K. (2020). The confidence-accuracy relationship using scale versus other methods of assessing confidence. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 9(2), 215-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2020.01.003

Wilson, S., & Mansour, J. K. (2020). Collective directional movement cues social cohesion. British Journal of Social Psychology, 59(4), 819-838. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12361

Mansour, J. K., **Hamilton, C.M., & *Gibson, M. T. (2019). Understanding the weapon focus effect: The role of threat, unusualness, scene complexity, and duration. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 33(6), 99-107. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3515

Bertrand, M. I., Lindsay, R. C. L., Mansour, J. K., Beaudry, J. L., Kalmet, N., & Melsom, E. I. (2018). Do lineup procedures of Canadian and U.S. police officers adhere to national policy recommendations? Manitoba Law Journal, 41(3), 1-47.

Mansour, J. K., Lindsay, R. C. L., & Beaudry, J. L. (2017) Accuracy and confidence in lineup decisions across single and multiple trials. Behavior Research Methods, 49(6), 2235-2254. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-017-0855-0  

Mansour, J. K., Beaudry, J. L., Kalmet, N. K., Bertrand, M, I., & Lindsay, R. C. L. (2017). Evaluating lineup fairness: Variations across methods and measures. Law and Human Behavior, 41(1), 103-115.  https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000203   

Beaudry, J. L., Lindsay, R. C. L., Leach, A.-M., Mansour, J. K.& Bertrand, M. I. (2015). The impact of evidence type, identification accuracy, lineup presentation, and lineup administration on observer belief of eyewitnesses. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 20(2), 343-364. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12030  

Mansour, J. K., Beaudry, J. L., Bertrand, M. I., Kalmet, N., Melsom, E., & Lindsay, R. C. L. (2012-retracted, agreed by all authors). Impact of disguise on identification decision and confidence with simultaneous and sequential lineups. Law and Human Behavior, 36(6), 513-526. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0093937  

Mansour, J. K., Lindsay, R. C. L, Brewer, N., & Munhall, K. G. (2009). Characterizing visual behavior on a lineup task. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23(7), 1012 - 1026. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1570  

Lindsay, R. C. L., Mansour, J. K., Beaudry, J. L., Leach, A. -M., & Bertrand, M. I. (2009). Sequential lineup presentation: Patterns and policy. Legal & Criminological Psychology, 14(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1348/135532508X382708   

Lindsay, R. C. L., Mansour, J. K., Beaudry, J. L., Leach, A. -M., & Bertrand, M. I. (2009). Beyond sequential presentation: Misconceptions and misrepresentations of sequential lineups. Legal & Criminological Psychology, 14(1), 31-34. https://doi.org/10.1348/135532508X382708   

 

Publications in Journals Without Peer Review (2)

Shambaugh, L., Mansour, J. K., & Vallano, J. P. (2021). Much ado about tattoos. Monitor on Psychology, 52(6), 39.

Mansour, J. K., & Flowe, H. D. (2010). Eye tracking and eyewitness memory. Forensic Update, 101,11-15.

 

Book Chapters (3)

Mansour, J. K., & Vallano, J. P. (2024). Who are you looking at? Using eye tracking to understand eyewitness decision making. In E. Pica, D. Roos, & J. Pozzulo (Eds.) The Impact of Technological Advances on the Legal System: Psychological Implications for Eyewitness Accuracy (pp. 143-721). New York: Taylor Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003323112-9

Lindsay, R. C. L., Mansour, J. K., Bertrand, M. I., Kalmet, N., & Melsom, E. (2011, September). Face perception and recognition in eyewitness memory. In A. Calder, G. Rhodes, M. Johnson, J. Haxby, & J. Keane (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Face Perception (pp 307-328). Oxford University Press

Kalmet, N. K., Lindsay, R. C. L., Bertrand, M. I., & Mansour, J. K. (2011, July). Factors influencing the identification accuracy of child witnesses. In S. Anand (Ed). Children and Law: Essays in Honour of Professor Nicholas Bala (pp 93–113). Irwin Law.

 

Encyclopedia Entries & Reports (7)

Mansour, J. K. (2021, July). Feedback on the draft code of practice on the conduct of identification procedures involving persons suspected or accused of committing offences – Public consultation. A report for the Working Group. Queen Margaret University.

Mansour, J. K. (2018, January). Feedback on the draft code of practice on the conduct of identification procedures involving persons suspected or accused of committing offences. Queen Margaret University.

Mansour, J. K. (2017, May). Research relating to the Academic Experts Report. Queen Margaret University.

Mansour, J. K., & Lindsay, R. C. L. (2010, January). Facial Recognition. In I. B. Weiner & W. E. Craighead (Eds.) Corsini’s Encyclopedia of Psychology, 4th edition, Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0342

Mansour, J. K., Beaudry, J. L., Bertrand, M. I., & Lindsay, R. C. L. (2007, December). Simultaneous and sequential presentation. In B. L. Cutler (Ed.) Encyclopaedia of Psychology and Law, Sage. (pp 748-749). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412959537.n290

Bertrand, M. I., Beaudry, J. L., Mansour, J. K., & Lindsay, R. C. L. (2007, December). Clothing bias. In B. L. Cutler (Ed.) Encyclopaedia of Psychology and Law, Sage. (pp 95-96). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412959537.n36

Lindsay, R. C. L., Mansour, J. K., Bertrand, M. I., & Kalmet, N. K. (2009). Final Report to 3D Sherlock: Developing & Assessing Composite Production Technology. 3D Sherlock, Ottawa, Canada.

Degrees

2010    PhD in Psychology (Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science), Queen’s University
  • Testing Applied Lineup Theory
2006    MA in Psychology (Social), Queen’s University
  • Characterizing Visual Behavior in a Lineup Task
2004   BSc (Honours), Industrial Internship Program in Psychology, with first class Honours, University of Alberta
  • Where Have I Seen Her Before? Accuracy Pointing to Previously Viewed Location
2001    BA (Criminology), with distinction, University of Alberta


Research Interests

If someone showed you a picture of your mother and asked who was pictured, you would probably say "my mother." This decision would be almost automatic; but why is that? What if the picture showed your mother when she was eight years old? Would the decision still be automatic? What if you had to pick your mother out of a set of six pictures? What if it was a police officer you were speaking with and he was asking you to pick a criminal out of a lineup? Decision making underlies much of our behaviour and the impact of those decisions varies from negligible to changing lives. Much of my research concerns applied decision making, and more specifically concerns how people make decisions about faces. Most of my research focuses on how people make decisions about police lineups (i.e., eyewitness identification) but I also do a bit of research on basic face recognition issues and in other experimental forensic psychology areas.

Police Lineups

Eyewitness memory refers to memory for a criminal event. When someone witnesses a crime, the police often ask them to describe the criminal, and then they search for a suspect. Once a suspect is found, witnesses are often asked to view police lineups. Criminal investigations and convictions rely heavily on eyewitness testimony in court. In particular, the conviction of a perpetrator may depend on whether a witness selects the suspect from a police lineup. This decision includes whether to identify anyone at all, the choice of a particular person, and the confidence associated with these decisions. I am interested in how this decision process occurs and the factors that influence the decision process.

I am particularly interested in the strategies that people use when viewing a lineup. Research in my lab is using eye tracking, thinking aloud (i.e., reporting your thoughts as they occur), and questionnaires to study how people make lineup decisions. I hope this research will help us better understand the decision process—allowing us to develop better theories of how eyewitnesses make lineup decisions—provide insights into how we can refine lineup procedures and instructions in order to maximize identification accuracy, and to obtain valid indicators of the likelihood that a lineup identification is accurate. Other research in my lab concerns how the decision to identify someone from a lineup varies under different circumstances, such as when the criminal was wearing a disguise at the time of the crime or had a tattoo, or when the lineup members were presented one at a time (simultaneous) versus all at once (sequentially). Finally, I am interested in what makes lineups fair and how we can measure this. A fair lineup is one in which the witness must rely on their memory a criminal rather than inferring who the police suspect because that person stands out in some way. If a lineup is unfair, then the chances of an innocent person being identified increase, which increases the possibility of a miscarriage of justice in the form of a wrongful conviction. Eyewitness evidence is highly compelling so it is very important that the police use fair lineups.

Eyewitness Confidence

The criminal justice system must make decisions about whether eyewitnesses are reliable or not. Commonly, an eyewitness' confidence is the mostly strongly relied on cue. Research shows that confidence is strongly related to accuracy under certain, ideal conditions, but we are still learning about when confidence predicts identification accuracy, which is an issue my lab is exploring. My lab is also exploring ways to maximize the relationship between confidence and accuracy. For example, most of the research on confidence has measured confidence on a scale (e.g., 0-100%, 1-7) but in practice, the police generally ask eyewitnesses to express their confidence in their own words. We are examining ways to help that the criminal justice system interpret verbal expressions of confidence.

The Weapon Focus Effect

The Weapon Focus Effect refers to findings that witnesses have poorer eyewitness memories when they witness events involving a weapon than when they witness events not involving a weapon. Witnesses may focus on a weapon to the exclusion of other items such as the face of a perpetrator or other witnesses. However, there is little research on the boundary conditions for this effect: what circumstances strengthen or weaken the effect?

In The Media

Knowledge Exchange & Public Engagement in Print (14; 7 first authored)

**Tӧredi, D. **Pennekamp, P, **Clark, H. & Mansour, J. K. (2022). Research in the Mansour Lab. Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report. https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SIPR-Annual-report-2022.pdf

**Pennekamp, P., & Mansour, J. K. (2022). Eyewitness confidence. Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report. https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SIPR-Annual-report-2022.pdf

Fugmann, N. K., & Mansour, J. K. (2021). Confidence and accuracy of eyewitness identification of familiar faces [Poster]. The Carnegie Trust. https://tinyurl.com/3ypyx4m2

Mansour, J. K. (September, 2021). Applied Cognitive Psychology in Forensic Settings 2021 Virtual Edition – A Joint QMU-SIPR Event (p. 58). https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SIPR-Annual-report-2020-21.pdf

Mansour, J. K., & Pennekamp, P. (September, 2021). Using Eyewitness Confidence. Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report (p. 59). https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SIPR-Annual-report-2020-21.pdf

Mansour, J. K. (September, 2020). The impact of weapons and threat on memory for criminals and events. Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report (p. 36-37). https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-Scottish-Institute-For-Policing-Research-annual-report-201920.pdf

**Pennekamp, P. Mansour, J. K. (September, 2020). Interpreting eyewitness confidence. Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report (p. 72-73). https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-Scottish-Institute-For-Policing-Research-annual-report-201920.pdf

**Pennekamp, P. Mansour, J. K. (August 5, 2020). Interpreting eyewitness confidence: What do you mean when you say, “pretty sure”? SIPR Blog. http://www.sipr.ac.uk/blog/interpreting-eyewitness-confidence-what-do-you-mean-when-you-say-pretty-sure.

Clark, A., & Mansour, J. K. (2019, September). Language and communication needs in the justice system/Roundup of research at Queen Margaret University. Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report (p. 56-57). https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Scottish-Institute-for-Policing-Research-Annual-Report-for-201819-.pdf

Mansour, J. K. (2018, September). Improving identification evidence by understanding eyewitness decision processes/Roundup of research at Queen Margaret University.  Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report (p. 63-64). https://www.sipr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Scottish-Institute-for-Policing-Research-Annual-Report-for-201718.pdf 

Mansour, J.K. (2018, July 27). Partnering to enable evidence-based practices in policing event. QMU Memory Research Group blog. https://memoryresearchgroup.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/partnering-to-enable-evidence-based-practices-in-policing-event/

Darling, S. D., & Mansour, J. K. (February 10, 2017). A new way of making eyewitness research [slightly] easier. QMU Memory Research Group blog. https://memoryresearchgroup.wordpress.com/2017/02/10/a-new-way-of-making-eyewitness-research-slightly-easier/

Mansour, J. K. (April 11, 2017). Eyewitnesses can often get it wrong. The Scotsman.

Mansour, J. K. (2011). On biases in police lineups. The Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted Quarterly, 3, 3-5.

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