Professor Barbara Masser
Professor

Barbara Masser

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Phone: 
+61 7 336 56373

Background

Barbara’s research uses social psychological theory to solve real social problems. Over 19 years she has collaborated with a range of industry partners (e.g., Australian Red Cross Lifeblood; state police agencies) to design and evaluate theory-based solutions to problems as diverse as how to minimise bias in investigating allegations of sexual assault to how to maximise blood donor appointment attendance. She has over 100 peer reviewed publications including many focused on gender, prejudice, discrimination, and SoHO donor recruitment and retention that have been published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Psychology of Women Quarterly, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Law & Human Behavior, Transfusion, Transfusion Medicine Reviews and and other journals.

Availability

Professor Barbara Masser is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Clinical sciences Psychology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, University of Kent
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Kent
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Kent

Research interests

  • Donor recruitment, retention, and health

    We have a wide array of research taking places in donors of substances of human origin (SoHO - see https://research.psy.uq.edu.au/dorn/research/). if you are interested in why donors do what they do, how we can promote retention and how we can ensure our donors remain happy and healthy, then please get in contact so we can discuss your PhD options.

  • Perceptions and treatment of victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence

    Sexual assault and intimate partner violence remain some of the most under-reported and under-prosecuted crimes. We have explored the role of schemas and stereotypes in influencing identification of these forms of violence and in decision-making about these crimes. If you are interested in stereotypes and schemas and are interested in how we can improve outcomes for victims and survivors of these crimes, then please get in touch so we can discuss PhD options.

Research impacts

Barbara is the current Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Joint Chair in Donor Research. In this role she works closely with the Donor Research team in Research & Development at Lifeblood to design and execute research that results in change to business-as-usual practice.

Search Professor Barbara Masser’s works on UQ eSpace

199 works between 1996 and 2025
All (199) Journal Article (149) Book Chapter (7) Conference Publication (28) Other Outputs (15)

121 - 140 of 199 works

2016

Conference Publication

Using indoor plants and natural elements to positively impact occupants of residential aged-care facilities

Scott, T. L., Masser, B. M. and Pachana, N. A. (2016). Using indoor plants and natural elements to positively impact occupants of residential aged-care facilities. XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17-22 August 2014. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1121.2

Using indoor plants and natural elements to positively impact occupants of residential aged-care facilities

2016

Journal Article

Building a flexible, voluntary donation panel: an exploration of donor willingness

Bagot, Kathleen L., Masser, Barbara M., Starfelt, Louise C. and White, Katherine M. (2016). Building a flexible, voluntary donation panel: an exploration of donor willingness. Transfusion, 56 (1), 186-194. doi: 10.1111/trf.13278

Building a flexible, voluntary donation panel: an exploration of donor willingness

2016

Conference Publication

Positive ageing and gardening: development and testing of a gardening survey measuring benefits of leisure gardening

Scott, T. L., Masser, B. M. and Pachana, N. A. (2016). Positive ageing and gardening: development and testing of a gardening survey measuring benefits of leisure gardening. XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17-22 August 2014. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1121.1

Positive ageing and gardening: development and testing of a gardening survey measuring benefits of leisure gardening

2015

Journal Article

Does the Narrative Style of Video Evidence Influence Judgements About Rape Complainant Testimony?

Westera, Nina J, Mckimmie, Blake M., Kebbell, Mark R., Milne, Rebecca and Masser, Barbara (2015). Does the Narrative Style of Video Evidence Influence Judgements About Rape Complainant Testimony?. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 29 (5), 637-646. doi: 10.1002/acp.3146

Does the Narrative Style of Video Evidence Influence Judgements About Rape Complainant Testimony?

2015

Conference Publication

Factors Associated with Blood Donation in an Older Population: A Comparison between Donors and Non-donors

Thijsen, A., Gemelli, C. N., Waller, D., Wright, S. T. and Masser, B. (2015). Factors Associated with Blood Donation in an Older Population: A Comparison between Donors and Non-donors. AABB Annual Meeting, Anaheim Ca, Oct 24-27, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Factors Associated with Blood Donation in an Older Population: A Comparison between Donors and Non-donors

2015

Conference Publication

Impact of Temporary Deferrals on Time to Return: Differences between Established and Newly Frequent Blood Donors

Gemelli, C. N., Thijsen, A., Waller, D., Wright, S. T. and Masser, B. (2015). Impact of Temporary Deferrals on Time to Return: Differences between Established and Newly Frequent Blood Donors. AABB Annual Meeting, Anaheim Ca, Oct 24-27, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Impact of Temporary Deferrals on Time to Return: Differences between Established and Newly Frequent Blood Donors

2015

Journal Article

Revisiting the effect of anthropomorphizing a social cause campaign

Williams, Lisa A., Masser, Barbara and Sun, Jessie (2015). Revisiting the effect of anthropomorphizing a social cause campaign. PL o S One, 10 (9) e0138886, 1-16. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138886

Revisiting the effect of anthropomorphizing a social cause campaign

2015

Journal Article

When "in your face" is not out of place: the effect of timing of disclosure of a same-sex dating partner under conditions of contact

Dane, Sharon K., Masser, Barbara M., MacDonald, Geoff and Duck, Julie M. (2015). When "in your face" is not out of place: the effect of timing of disclosure of a same-sex dating partner under conditions of contact. PLoS One, 10 (8) e0135023, 1-29. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135023

When "in your face" is not out of place: the effect of timing of disclosure of a same-sex dating partner under conditions of contact

2015

Journal Article

A novel approach to increasing inventory with the current panel: increasing donation frequency by asking for a different blood product

Bagot, Kathleen L., Masser, Barbara M. and White, Katherine M. (2015). A novel approach to increasing inventory with the current panel: increasing donation frequency by asking for a different blood product. Transfusion, 55 (6), 1294-1302. doi: 10.1111/trf.12990

A novel approach to increasing inventory with the current panel: increasing donation frequency by asking for a different blood product

2015

Journal Article

Recruiting and retaining plasmapheresis donors: A critical belief analysis

Bagot, Kathleen L, Masser, Barbara M, White, Katherine M and Starfelt, Louise C (2015). Recruiting and retaining plasmapheresis donors: A critical belief analysis. Transfusion and Apheresis Science, 52 (3), 350-357. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2015.03.005

Recruiting and retaining plasmapheresis donors: A critical belief analysis

2015

Journal Article

Plasmapheresis: recruitment, retention and flexible donors

Masser, B. and Bagot, K. (2015). Plasmapheresis: recruitment, retention and flexible donors. ISBT Science Series, 10 (S1), 268-274. doi: 10.1111/voxs.12147

Plasmapheresis: recruitment, retention and flexible donors

2015

Journal Article

Using an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict a Change in the Type of Blood Product Donated

Bagot, Kathleen L., Masser, Barbara M. and White, Katherine M. (2015). Using an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict a Change in the Type of Blood Product Donated. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 49 (4), 510-521. doi: 10.1007/s12160-014-9677-9

Using an Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict a Change in the Type of Blood Product Donated

2014

Journal Article

Multisensory installations in residential aged-care facilities: increasing novelty and encouraging social engagement through modest environmental changes

Scott, Theresa, L., Masser, Barbara, M. and Pachana, Nancy, A. (2014). Multisensory installations in residential aged-care facilities: increasing novelty and encouraging social engagement through modest environmental changes. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 40 (9), 20-31. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20140731-01

Multisensory installations in residential aged-care facilities: increasing novelty and encouraging social engagement through modest environmental changes

2014

Journal Article

Exploring the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening for older adults

Scott, Theresa L., Masser, Barbara M. and Pachana, Nancy A. (2014). Exploring the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening for older adults. Ageing and Society, 35 (10), 2176-2200. doi: 10.1017/S0144686X14000865

Exploring the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening for older adults

2014

Journal Article

Donor research in Australia: challenges and promise

Masser, Barbara, Smith, Geoff and Williams, Lisa A. (2014). Donor research in Australia: challenges and promise. Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy, 41 (4), 296-301. doi: 10.1159/000365016

Donor research in Australia: challenges and promise

2014

Journal Article

Asking for something different from our donors: factors influencing persuasion success

Bagot, Kathleen L., Bove, Liliana L., Masser, Barbara M. and White, Katherine M. (2014). Asking for something different from our donors: factors influencing persuasion success. Transfusion, 54 (3 Part 2), 848-855. doi: 10.1111/trf.12500

Asking for something different from our donors: factors influencing persuasion success

2014

Journal Article

What counts as rape? The effect of offense prototypes, victim stereotypes, and participant gender on how the complainant and defendant are perceived

McKimmie, Blake M., Masser, Barbara M. and Bongiorno, Renata (2014). What counts as rape? The effect of offense prototypes, victim stereotypes, and participant gender on how the complainant and defendant are perceived. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, OnlineFirst (12), 1-31. doi: 10.1177/0886260513518843

What counts as rape? The effect of offense prototypes, victim stereotypes, and participant gender on how the complainant and defendant are perceived

2014

Conference Publication

Understanding the current and future contribution of psychology to blood donor recruitment

Masser, B. and Bagot, K. (2014). Understanding the current and future contribution of psychology to blood donor recruitment. State of the Art: 24th Regional Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion–Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1–4 December 2013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/voxs.12075

Understanding the current and future contribution of psychology to blood donor recruitment

2013

Other Outputs

Overcoming the impact of situationally induced anxiety on would-be donors

Masser, Barbara, Nitschke, Faye and Doherty, Nicole (2013). Overcoming the impact of situationally induced anxiety on would-be donors. Not available:

Overcoming the impact of situationally induced anxiety on would-be donors

2013

Journal Article

Stereotypical and counterstereotypical defandants: who is he and what was the case against her?

McKimmie, Blake M., Masters, Jane M., Masser, Barbara M., Schuller, Regina A. and Terry, Deborah J. (2013). Stereotypical and counterstereotypical defandants: who is he and what was the case against her?. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 19 (3), 343-354. doi: 10.1037/a0030505

Stereotypical and counterstereotypical defandants: who is he and what was the case against her?

Current funding

  • 2025
    Investigating the Role of Partners as Social Support for Human Milk Donors
    South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    The BRAVE Project - BReAking resistance, designing a short in-situ interVEntion to help non-donors overcome blood donation distress
    Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Collaborative Research and Research Chair Agreement
    Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Engaging the over 50s to ensure the sustainability of our blood supply
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Optimising human milk nutrition to improve the long-term health of preterm infants (NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence led by The University of Adelaide)
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Infectious pathogens and associated risk factors in blood donors: protecting the blood supply while providing a window into the wider community (NHMRC Partnership Projects Grant led by UNSW)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    ARC Training Centre for Behavioural Insights for Technology Adoption (BITA) (ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre Administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Donor Health and Behaviour
    National Institute for Health Research UK
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Engaging ethnic minority and majority blood donors in donor recruitment
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Protecting the blood supply against infectious disease by strengthening the evidence base that guides donor selection and screening policy (NHMRC Partnership Project administered by UNSW )
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Australian Red Cross Blood Service Chair in Donor Behaviour
    Australian Red Cross Blood Service
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    The emotional psychology of blood donors: understanding and using the affective key to donor return (ARC Linkage Project administered by the University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Overcoming the Impact of Situationally Induced Anxiety
    Australian Red Cross Blood Service
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Rape victims on trial: Understanding police officers' and jurors' beliefs about sexual assault, victims, and perpetrators.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2015
    The initiation and maintenance of plasma and platelet donation in Australia: An analysis of the role of donor identity and commitment
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Managing vasovagal reactions among young first-time blood donors
    Australian Red Cross Blood Service
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Understanding and diminishing the impact of stereotypes about female victims of sexual assault
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Understand the reactions of blood donors and recipients to an avian influenza pandemic
    Australian Red Cross Blood Service
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2007
    Recruiting and retaining Australian blood donors: A social-psychological analysis of the role of attitudes, identity, and norms
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Predictors of new donor return rates to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service
    Australian Red Cross Blood Service
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Recruiting and Retaining Blood Donors: A Social-Psychological Analysis
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Understanding reactions to diversity initiatives in organizations: An intergroup perspective.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Detecting and eliminating 'backlash': A social identity perspective.
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2003
    Sustainable natural resource management in rural communities: a social-psychological analysis of relationships among attitudes, norms and practices
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    Open grant
  • 2001
    When will the stereotypes of the prejudiced rebound and be expressed?
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Barbara Masser is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Barbara Masser directly for media enquiries about:

  • Blood donor recruitment
  • Blood donors - psychology
  • Discrimination - psychology
  • Discrimination and psychology
  • Gender - social psychology
  • Gender equity
  • Homophobia
  • Prejudice and psychology
  • Psychology of blood donation
  • Sexism
  • Sexual harassment
  • Social psychology
  • Women and work

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