Department of psychology

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Maria S. Zaragoza , Ph.D.

Education: Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University (1984)

Research Interests

Research interests are in memory and cognition. I am especially interested in source monitoring (the processes by which people identify the origins of their memories), the determinants of the phenomenal experience of remembering, and the application of theories regarding these processes to the suggestibility of eyewitness memory in adults and children.  Other interests include the effects of emotion and traumatic stress on memory processes.

Courses Frequently Taught

• Cognitive Psychology (undergraduate)
• General Psychology (undergraduate)
• Honors General Psychology (undergraduate)
• Memory & Cognition (graduate)
• False Memory Seminar (graduate)
• Cognitive Psychology (graduate)

Recent Publications

Drivdahl, S., Zaragoza, M.S., & Learned, D. (in press).  The role of emotional elaboration in the creation of false memories.  Applied Cognitive Psychology.

Lane, S.M., & Zaragoza, M.S. (2007).  A little elaboration goes a long way:  The role of generation in eyewitness suggestibility.  Memory & Cognition, 35(6), 1255-1266

Hanba, J. M. & Zaragoza, M. S.  (2007). Interviewer feedback in repeated interviews involving forced confabulation.  Applied Cognitive Psychology, 21(4), 433-455.

Zaragoza, M. S., Belli, R. S., & Payment, K. E. (2006).  Misinformation effects and the  suggestibility of eyewitness memory.  In M. Garry & H. Hayne (Eds.).  Do justice and let the sky fall:  Elizabeth F. Loftus and her contributions to science, law, and academic freedom, (pp. 35-63).  Hillsdale, NJ:  Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Zaragoza, M. S., Payment, K. E., Ackil, J. K., Drivdahl, S. B., & Beck, M. (2001).  Interviewing witnesses:  Forced confabulation and confirmatory feedback increase false memories.  Psychological Science, 12, 473-477.