The Legal Decision Making Research Laboratory at Stephen F. Austin State University focuses on eyewitness memory and decision making strategies used by eyewitnesses in the legal system. Research in the laboratory is conducted by Dr. Lisa Topp and her students. Current interests in the laboratory include eyewitness memory and composite construction;  more specifically, how the composite construction process can influence a witness’ memory for the culprit.  Research interests also include eyewitness decision making, focusing on an examination of lineup identification methods and their influence on eyewitness decisions.

The lab was recently established in the Fall of 2008 and is rapidly growing with research and student instruction.The Legal Decision Making Lab is a teaching environment where undergraduate students can obtain research skills needed to advance to graduate school. Graduate students in the Masters program at SFA can gain valuable research experience that will further enable them to be accepted into competitive Ph.D. programs.

In addition to research within the laboratory, we are also interested in research and training in applied settings. To date, Dr. Topp has taught composite construction techniques and interviewing techniques to police officers detectives across Southwest Texas. In addition she assisted in the analyses and report on the Illinois Pilot Program on Sequential Double-Blind Identification Procedures.

If you are a graduate or undergraduate student who is interested in joining the Legal Decision Making Laboratory, please contact Dr. Topp at TOPPL@sfasu.edu.