Dr Melanie Pitchford

Principal Lecturer in Psychology, Postgraduate Portfolio Lead

I began my academic life at the University of Central Lancashire where I obtained a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a MSc in Psychological Research Methods. I then went on to complete my PhD in psychology at Lancaster University.

The main focus of my research for my PhD was to investigate individual differences (particularly working memory) in belief bias in the domain of human reasoning.

Additionally, I collaborate on research into facial composites, specifically the award winning computerised facial composite construction system EvoFIT.

I joined the University of Bedfordshire in April 2013 as a Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology.

BSc (Hons) Psychology - University of Central Lancashire
MSc Psychological Research Methods (Distinction) - University of Central Lancashire
PgCert of Achievement in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education - Lancaster University
PhD Psychology - Lancaster University

Course Co-ordinator for Psychology and Criminal Behaviour
Unit Co-ordinator: PSY007-3 Problem Solving (Level 6)
Unit Co-ordinator: PSY027-3 Psychology Honours Project Research Dissertation (Level 6)
Unit Co-ordinator: PSY028-3 BA Psychology & Criminal Behaviour Dissertation - MK (Level 6)
Unit Co-ordinator: PSY010-3 Forensic Psychology in Practice - MK (Level 6)
Contributor: Psychology of Language and Vision (Level 6)

Belief Bias in Human Reasoning
Facial Composites (EvoFIT)
Eyewitness Memory

Stupple, E.J.N., Hunt, T., Pitchford, M. & Ball, L. J. (2014). Slower isn't always better: Response-times present challenges for the cognitive miserliness account of the Cognitive Reflection Test. Paper presented at Annual Conference of the BPS Cognitive Psychology Section. Nottingham Trent University. 3-5 September 2014.

Hand, C. J., Kennedy, A., Filik, R., Pitchford, M., & Robus, C. M. (2022). Emoji identification and emoji effects on sentence emotionality in ASD-diagnosed adults and neurotypical controls. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-15.
Alhaboby, Z. A., Al-Khateeb, H. M., Barnes, J., Jahankhani, H., Pitchford, M., Conradie, L., & Short, E. (2021). Cyber-disability hate cases in the UK: the documentation by the police and potential barriers to reporting. In Cybersecurity, privacy and freedom protection in the connected world (pp. 123-133). Springer, Cham.
Richardson, B. H., Brown, C., Heard, P., Pitchford, M., Portch, E., Lander, K., ... & Frowd, C. D. (2020). The advantage of low and medium attractiveness for facial composite production from modern forensic systems. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 9(3), 381-395.
Robus, C. M., Hand, C. J., Filik, R., & Pitchford, M. (2020). Investigating effects of emoji on neutral narrative text: Evidence from eye movements and perceived emotional valence. Computers in human Behavior, 109, 106361.
Conradie, L., Pitchford, M., Barnes, J., & Short, E. (2020). Cyberharassment awareness course (cybac): Influences from domestic abuse perpetrator programmes for its design and function. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 14(1), 220-235.
Frowd, C.D., Skelton F., Hepton, G., Holden, L., Minahil, S., Pitchford, M., McIntyre, A., & Hancock, P.J.B. (2013). Whole-face procedures for recovering facial images from memory. Science & Justice, 53, 89-97.