Daniel Carragher

Dr Daniel Carragher

Lecturer

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am a Lecturer and Research Fellow in the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide, where I study face perception and identification. I'm interested in how we recognise faces, their emotional expressions, make first impressions from facial appearance. My current research investigates how humans perform identity matching tasks, including with assistance from facial recognition technologies. With my background in cognitive and experimental psychology, I have broad interests in visuospatial attention, ensemble coding, memory, and decision-making.

My recent research interests centre around how we identify human faces. That is, if we are shown two faces, how are we able to tell whether they show the same person or two different people? This type of face matching task is surprisingly common in the real world, yet the average person is somewhat error prone when making these decisions. Recently, I have been investigating how humans perform these face matching tasks when assisted by facial recognition technology. I have also led a number of projects about how COVID-19 face masks affect the face identification accuracy of both humans and algorithms. My previous research has also included studying the first impressions we make from facial appearance, how we process complex visual scenes, and asymmetries in visuospatial attention.

Student Projects 2026

I'll likely be offering several honours projects in 2026 that revolve around human performance on one-to-one face matching tasks when assisted by (simulated) facial recognition technologies. These tasks are common in every day life, such as when you are asked to show photo ID (e.g., a driver's licence) at a store or when travelling through airports. Yet humans often struggle to decide whether photo ID matches the person presenting it for inspection! In some situations, humans may be asked to evaluate decisions from facial recognition technology. But what do we do when we disagree with the output from this technology? Do we change our mind, or overturn the decision from the system? My recent research has been investigating these types of questions. You can find links to my most recent work in this area through the link to Google Scholar on my profile (below).

Please contact me via email for further information.

Similar projects are available for interested PhD students. Please email me to discuss. But please note, these projects are primarily based in Psychology, not Computer Science or Machine Learning. These projects will investigate how human decision-making, in the context of face verification tasks, is influenced by algorithm outputs - as opposed to creating new algorithms.  

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2024 Carragher, D. J., Sturman, D., & Hancock, P. J. B. (2024). Trust in automation and the accuracy of human–algorithm teams performing one-to-one face matching tasks. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 9(1), 17 pages.
    DOI Scopus5
    2024 Bartlett, M. L., Carragher, D. J., Hancock, P. J. B., & McCarley, J. S. (2024). Benchmarking automation-aided performance in a forensic face matching task. Applied Ergonomics, 121, 104364.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Carragher, D. J., & Hancock, P. J. B. (2024). The Wisdom of the Crowd Can Unmask Faces. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 38(5), 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Mueller, M., Hancock, P. J. B., Cunningham, E. K., Watt, R. J., Carragher, D., & Bobak, A. K. (2024). Automated face recognition assists with low-prevalence face identity mismatches but can bias users. British Journal of Psychology, 18 pages.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Ritchie, K. L., Carragher, D. J., Davis, J. P., Read, K., Jenkins, R. E., Noyes, E., . . . Hancock, P. J. B. (2024). Face masks and fake masks: the effect of real and superimposed masks on face matching with super-recognisers, typical observers, and algorithms.. Cogn Res Princ Implic, 9(1), 5.
    DOI Scopus5 Europe PMC2
    2023 Carragher, D. J., & Hancock, P. J. B. (2023). Simulated automated facial recognition systems as decision-aids in forensic face matching tasks.. Journal of experimental psychology. General, 152(5), 1286-1304.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS2 Europe PMC4
    2022 Carragher, D. J., Towler, A., Mileva, V. R., White, D., & Hancock, P. J. B. (2022). Masked face identification is improved by diagnostic feature training. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 7(1), 1-12.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS7 Europe PMC8
    2022 Carragher, D. J. (2022). Examining the cheerleader effect. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(6), 316.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2021 Hsieh, J. Y. J., Gwinn, O. S., Brooks, K. R., Stephen, I. D., Carragher, D. J., & Nicholls, M. E. R. (2021). The “cheerleader effect” in facial and bodily attractiveness: A result of memory bias and not perceptual encoding. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(5), 972-980.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC5
    2021 Ciricugno, A., Bartlett, M. L., Gwinn, O. S., Carragher, D. J., & Nicholls, M. E. R. (2021). The effect of cognitive load on horizontal and vertical spatial asymmetries. Laterality, 26(6), 706-724.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS5 Europe PMC7
    2021 Carragher, D. J., Thomas, N. A., & Nicholls, M. E. R. (2021). The dissociable influence of social context on judgements of facial attractiveness and trustworthiness.. British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953), 112(4), 902-933.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS8 Europe PMC5
    2020 Carragher, D. J., Thomas, N. A., Gwinn, O. S., & Nicholls, M. E. R. (2020). The cheerleader effect is robust to experimental manipulations of presentation time. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 32(5-6), 553-561.
    DOI Scopus10 WoS7
    2020 Carragher, D. J., & Hancock, P. J. B. (2020). Surgical face masks impair human face matching performance for familiar and unfamiliar faces.. Cognitive research: principles and implications, 5(1), 59.
    DOI Scopus126 WoS76 Europe PMC82
    2019 Carragher, D. J., Thomas, N. A., Gwinn, O. S., & Nicholls, M. E. R. (2019). Limited evidence of hierarchical encoding in the cheerleader effect.. Scientific reports, 9(1), 9329.
    DOI Scopus17 WoS13 Europe PMC8
    2018 Carragher, D. J., Lawrence, B. J., Thomas, N. A., & Nicholls, M. E. R. (2018). Visuospatial asymmetries do not modulate the cheerleader effect. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 2548.
    DOI Scopus20 WoS17 Europe PMC9
    2018 Carragher, D. J., Thomas, N. A., & Nicholls, M. E. R. (2018). Is trustworthiness lateralized in the face? Evidence from a trust game. Laterality, 23(1), 20-38.
    DOI Scopus13 WoS11 Europe PMC8

  • Preprint
    Year Citation
    2024 Hua, A., & Carragher, D. J. (2024). Validating a New Trial Procedure for Assessing Human-Algorithm Teaming in One-to-One Face Matching Tasks.
    DOI
    2023 Carragher, D. J., & Hancock, P. (2023). The Wisdom of the Crowd Can Unmask Faces.
    DOI
    2023 Carragher, D. J., Sturman, D., & Hancock, P. (2023). Trust in Automation and the Accuracy of Human-Algorithm Teams Performing One-to-One Face Matching Tasks.
    DOI Europe PMC1
    2023 Bartlett, M. L., Carragher, D. J., Hancock, P., & McCarley, J. (2023). Benchmarking Automation-Aided Performance in a Forensic Face Matching Task.
    DOI Europe PMC1
    2021 Carragher, D. J., Towler, A., Mileva, V. R., White, D., & Hancock, P. (2021). Masked face identification is improved by diagnostic feature training.
    DOI
    2020 Carragher, D. J., & Hancock, P. (2020). Surgical face masks impair human face matching performance for familiar and unfamiliar faces.
    DOI
    2019 Carragher, D. J., Thomas, N., Gwinn, S., & Nicholls, M. (2019). The cheerleader effect is robust to experimental manipulations of presentation time.
    DOI
Year Project Investigators Award / Funding Body Amount (AUD)
2025 - 2028 Improving face identification by human-algorithm teams  Carragher, D. J. Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Australian Research Council (DE250101196) $478,861
2025 Face representations pilot Ngiam, W. X. Q., Nelson, N. L., & Carragher., D. J. Early Grant Development - School of Psychology, University of Adelaide $8,292
2024 Human-algorithm teaming under time pressure Carragher, D. J. Early Career Researcher Small Grants Scheme - School of Psychology, University of Adelaide $2,874
2023 Human-algorithm teaming for identity verification Carragher, D. J. Building Research Leaders - School of Psychology/Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide $29,000
2023 A novel face identification task Searston, R. A., & Carragher, D. J. Early Career Researcher Small Grants Scheme - School of Psychology, University of Adelaide $5,000

Course Co-ordination:

Year Course Level
2022-2024 Perception & Cognition (PSYCHOL 3023) Undergraduate (Level III)
2022-2024 Advanced Career and Research Skills in Psychology - A (PSYCHOL 3011A) Undergraduate (Level III)
2022 Doing Research in Psychology: Advanced (PSYCHOL 3020) Undergraduate (Level III)

Teaching:

Year Course Level
2024 Honours Thesis in Psychology Part I (PSYCHOL 4300A) Undergraduate (Level IV / Honours)
2022 - Present Advanced Career and Research Skills in Psychology - A (PSYCHOL 3011A) Undergraduate (Level III)
2022 - 2024 Perception & Cognition (PSYCHOL 3023) Undergraduate (Level III)

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Principal Supervisor Investigating the Development of Expertise in Automation Aided Face Matching Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Jasmine Cooper
    2024 Principal Supervisor Individual Differences in Face Identification Strategies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Alysha Jay Hua

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 - ongoing Principal Supervisor TBA University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Amna Saad
    2024 - 2024 Principal Supervisor The Relationship Between Face Perception and Deepfake Detection: An Investigation of Individual Differences University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Devon Ankers
    2024 - 2024 Principal Supervisor The Effects of Facial Hair on Unfamiliar Face Identification Performance in a Face Matching Task and a Facial Array Task University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Olivia Bridgland
    2024 - 2024 Principal Supervisor A Bearded Disguise: Examining the Role of Beards and Face Masks in Face Matching Performance University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Emily Salvatore
    2024 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Investigating the optimal level of human involvement when using automated facial recognition systems University of Adelaide - Master Full Time Rachel Min
    2023 - 2023 Principal Supervisor The Effect of Perceived Task Difficulty on Reliance on Automated Facial Recognition Systems as Decision Aids University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Sana Vohra
    2023 - 2023 Principal Supervisor The Effect of Perceived Task Role on Reliance on Artificial Intelligence in Unfamiliar Face Matching Tasks University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Jordan Anthony
    2023 - 2023 Principal Supervisor The Effects of Making Independent Judgements and Time Pressure on Human Use of Automated Facial Recognition Systems University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Alysha Hua
    2022 - 2022 Principal Supervisor The effect of face familiarity on boundary errors University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Rachel Min
    2022 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Boundary Errors Elicited by Trait First Impressions University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Eleni Kasimidou
    2022 - 2022 Principal Supervisor The Effect of Faces, Facial Expressions and Trait Anxiety on Boundary Judgement Errors University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Kareena Brand
  • Position: Lecturer
  • Phone: 83135557
  • Email: daniel.carragher@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Hughes, floor Level Seven
  • Room: 725
  • Org Unit: Psychology
Connect With Me
External Profiles