Tag: Perception

  • You may influence eye direction of users by displaying big or small numbers on the screen

    In a study conducted in 2016, researchers investigated how our attention and eyes react when we hear numbers. In the primary task, 17 participants had to fix the center of a screen while listening to small or large numbers, pressing a key when number 5 is prononced. The analytical approach involved comparing time-series data of eye positions when displaying small or large numbers. Confounders like right- or left-dominant eyes were controled. Among other hypothesis, the primary hypothesis which posited that the participants eyes would not maintain central fixation depending on the number they heard, was supported by the results with a not found effect size. This overview provides a concise synthesis of the most relevant results. For more details, please refer to the article page.

    It is likely that showing users a small number will shift their attention to the left side of the screen space while large numbers may result in a shift to the right instead.

    Myachykov, A., Ellis, R., Cangelosi, A., & Fischer, M. H. (2016). Ocular drift along the mental number line. Psychological Research, 80(3), 379–388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-015-0731-4

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  • Users may overestimate the brightness of positively valenced objects

    In a study conducted in 2007, researchers investigated the link between positive and negative statements with bright and dark. In the primary task, 40 participants had to tell if a square was the bright one or the dark one after judging valence of positive or negative word that were displayed on a screen. Authors used temporary deception by telling participants that the square brightness would not be the same after each word, when it actually was. The analytical approach involved comparing mean percentage of light square responses for each word valence with a repeated-measures t test. Confounders like word frequency and color inherently associated with words were controled. Among other hypothesis, the primary hypothesis which posited that the displayed words would influence brightness perception, was supported by the results with a large (p. 368) effect size. This overview provides a concise synthesis of the most relevant results. For more details, please refer to the article page.

    It is likely that the brightness of intrinsically good objects will be overestimated by the users perception.

    Meier, B. P., Robinson, M. D., Crawford, L. E., & Ahlvers, W. J. (2007). When “light” and “dark” thoughts become light and dark responses: Affect biases brightness judgments. Emotion, 7(2), 366–376. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.7.2.366

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  • Users may be less efficient scanning complex interfaces when a peer is present

    In a study conducted in 2020, researchers investigated if presence of others influences attention, eye movements, and decision-making processes. In the primary task, 79 participants had to fixate a dot cue on the screen center and find a target among distractors in the screen, while a familiar partner may or may not be present in the room. Authors used an eye-tracking device to measure eye movements. The analytical approach involved comparing comparing means of reaction times for saccades, visual search and continuous performance, with different factors like condition and difficulty in ANOVAS. Confounders like vision and neurologic or psychiatric history were controled. Among other hypothesis, the primary hypothesis which posited that presence of a mere family member would influence visual reaction times, was supported by the results with a large (p. 9) effect size. The results indicated that peer presence did not have a significant influence on the visual search and continuous performance tasks. This overview provides a concise synthesis of the most relevant results. For more details, please refer to the article page.

    Consider how users’ scanning of an interface might change—either getting better or worse—when they’re working on a task with a friend nearby.

    Tricoche, L., Ferrand-Verdejo, J., Pélisson, D., & Meunier, M. (2020). Peer presence effects on eye movements and attentional performance. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00280

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