ABBIE MACASKILL

ABBIE MACASKILL
ABBIE MACASKILL
ABBIE MACASKILL

MRes, MA

Research PG

About

Biography

I am a SGSSS-funded Psychology PhD student interested in memory, language, forensic psychology, and the integration of AI in psychological research. My PhD project focuses on improving the diagnostic value of person descriptions in eyewitness forensic interviews, leveraging insights from basic free recall research, to guide eyewitness evidence-gathering policy. I sometimes use machine-learning techniques to investigate these issues. Ultimately, I am passionate about improving the criminal-legal system, particularly in eyewitness identification and investigative practices.

Qualifications

  • MRes Psychology 
    2025 - University of Aberdeen 

    with Distinction & won the John Shepherd Prize for best thesis in the 2024-25 academic cohort. 

  • MA Psychology 
    2023 - University of Aberdeeneen 

    First-class honours

Memberships and Affiliations

Internal Memberships

PhD Year 1 Class Rep

External Memberships

Student Member, Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC)

Graduate Member, British Psychological Society (GMBPsS)

Student Member, Psychonomic Society

Postgraduate Member, Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR)

Student Member, European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL)

Prizes and Awards

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) ESRC-Funded Studentship (1+3.5), 2024-2029. PhD title: Testing the Diagnostic Value of Person Descriptions. UK Research and Innovation Link

Student Travel Grant, 2025 - Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC). Supported attendance and presentation at the SARMAC 2025 Conference, Kildare, Ireland. 

John Shepherd Prize, 2025 - University of Aberdeen. Awarded for the best MRes Psychology thesis in the 2024-25 academic year. John Shepherd Prize Link

J.Frank Yates Travel Award, 2025 - Psychonomic Society. Supported attendance and presentation at the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, Colorado, USA. Yates Student Travel Award Link

Research

Research Areas

Funding and Grants

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS) ESRC-Funded Studentship (1+3.5), 2024-2029. PhD title: Testing the Diagnostic Value of Person Descriptions. UK Research and Innovation Link

Student Travel Grant, 2025 - Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC). Supported attendance and presentation at the SARMAC 2025 Conference, Kildare, Ireland. 

J.Frank Yates Travel Award, 2025 - Psychonomic Society. Supported attendance and presentation at the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting, Colorado, USA. Yates Student Travel Award Link

Teaching