Putting deservingness into question
The sub-theme 'Content of citizenship' explores through different projects the meaning of citizenship beyond a legal status, as the expression of a collective identity grounded in a shared sense of belonging to a particular national community.
Objective
Based on the Psychological Research Evidence (PRE) project, this research adopts a legal interdisciplinary perspective looking at the content of citizenship through the refugee adjudication process. It looks at how credibility assessments in that process may impact broader integration and citizenship acquisition prospects of applicants. A particularly innovative project, this research combines legal and psychological reasoning, and connects the findings with sociological and political sciences perspectives into who belongs and who does not deserve to belong.
Research question(s)
- How does social scientific literature challenge assumptions that underly deception findings in refugee status decision-making?
- What 'off the record' inferences motivate deception findings in refugee status decision-making?
- What legal principles and norms should inform the use of social scientific evidence in assessing a refugee claimant’s credibility?
Methodology
This research project employs a mixed-methods design, integrating psychology and law disciplines.
Related projects
- Psychological Research Evidence (PRE) project (Hilary Evans Cameron)
Status
This project is ongoing, with multiple outcomes—draft articles, consensus papers, panel discussions, and events—being finalized.
Expected completion date: September 2026
Outcomes
Publications:
Evans Cameron, H., Herlihy, J., & Hynie, M. (2025). Investigating deception findings in Canadian refugee status rejections: Legal inferences and psychological assumptions. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2024.2404862
Evans Cameron, H., Rehaag, S., & Friesen, K. (in press). The effect of an “appearance, presentation, and demeanour” instruction on credibility and deception judgments in mock refugee status decisions. Journal of Law and Social Policy.
Past events and conferences:
- Adamantly Immigration-based: Refugee Status Determination in Japan, Toronto, ON and online, November 7, 2024
Key words
Canadian identity; citizenship acquisition; deception judgments; migrant integration; refugee status decision-making
