Leah Debella

Dr. Leah Debella is a Professor at the Faculty of Science, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, specializing in Cognitive Psychology and Memory Research. Her work bridges educational psychology with behavioral science, focusing on memory encoding, academic integrity, and cognitive biases.

• B.A. from Sonoma State University
• M.Sc. from University of British Columbia
• Ph.D from University of California, Davis

Her research explores implicit memory through the production effect, examining how active engagement with material enhances retention. Additionally, she investigates self-deception in academic settings and the misperception of future performance after cheating. Her studies also address memory distortion (e.g., the misinformation effect) and its implications for eyewitness testimony.

The themes of her recent publications highlight a focus on:

• Memory Encoding and Retrieval
• Cognitive Distinctiveness in Learning
• Academic Dishonesty and Metacognition
• Cognitive Testing and Experimental Design
• History of Applied Memory Research
• False Memory and Legal Psychology