Nicola Brooks

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


I am a PhD candidate in the School of Psychology supervised by Dr Rachel Searston and Dr Melissa Humphries. My research is in cognitive science, with a focus on forensic science communication.

In courtroom settings, judges, jurors, and lawyers are often required to interpret probabilistic information presented by forensic experts, yet this type of reasoning can be challenging without statistical expertise. While forensic experts are increasingly encouraged to report the accuracy and reliability of their methods, misunderstandings of these metrics may lead factfinders to overvalue or undervalue the strength of the evidence, potentially resulting in miscarriages of justice. My PhD investigates when and why such misunderstandings occur, and explores strategies to improve comprehension of error and uncertainty in forensic expert reports.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2024 - ongoing Academic Tutor and Marker University of Adelaide
    2023 - 2024 Research Assistant University of Adelaide
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2020 - 2023 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Psychology (Advanced) (Honours)

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