Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 2020, Communication Disorders

Objective. To explore how listeners use three aspects of the acoustic signal in the novel context of formant space configurations to determine speaker gender. Methods. The software Madde, Praat, and Audacity were used to synthesize 210 sound files that each contain the vowels /i, æ, ɑ, u/ separated by brief silences (i.e., the formant space configuration context). The 210 files were created by combining 10 values for fundamental frequency, seven sets of formant frequencies (vocal tract length), and three values for source spectral tilt. The lowest values for formant frequencies (longest value for vocal tract length) and fundamental frequency each correspond to the values for the average male. The highest values for formant frequencies (shortest vocal tract length) and fundamental frequency each correspond to the values for the average female. The values for source spectral tilt approximate the voice qualities of breathy, normal, and pressed. Twenty-three listeners judged the gender of the “speaker” of the synthesized sounds as female or male. Results. Increases in fundamental frequency and formant frequencies (decreases in vocal tract length) correlated with increased likelihood of judgement of female. An interaction between source spectral tilt and formant frequencies (vocal tract length) revealed that an increase in the steepness of source spectral tilt increased likelihood of judgement of female only when formant frequencies were high (vocal tract length was short). An interaction between formant frequencies (vocal tract length) and fundamental frequency revealed listeners were more sensitive to changes in fundamental frequency when formant frequencies were high (vocal tract length was short). Conclusions. Both fundamental frequency and formant frequencies are strong cues to speaker gender. The contribution of other cues, such as source spectral tilt were subtle. The observed interactions point to gender aspects of speech perception as a complex phenomen (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Remote sensor platforms, operating as part of a human sensor system, allow practitioners to extend their reach into remote environments normally inaccessible to humans and to substantially change the scale at which they work. Despite the utility these sensor platforms provide to domain practitioners, their operation remains difficult, slow, and error prone. Previous work has claimed these problems stem from the fact that currently available sensor platforms are not designed to work with the human operator as part of a larger perceptual system. As a result, operators struggle to understand the physical layout of the remote environment, and the opportunities for action in that environment. These clams are well founded from perceptual psychology, but have not yet received empirical verification. Additionally, research performed on human sensor system perception has not yet addressed the effects of viewpoint motion on perceptual performance. Both gaps in the human sensor system perception literature have been addressed in the current work. The three experiments performed to address these gaps extended previous research examining operators' ability to judge the reachability of target objects in a remote environment. The first two experiments found that the human sensor system was well modeled using approaches from perceptual psychology. These results support the claims made in previous work, that sensor platforms operate as part of a larger perceptual system. The third experiment in the current work found that viewpoint motions that ii provides new perspectives onto a scene of interest significantly improved participants' perceptual performance. These results provide the first empirical verification of Roesler (2005) and Morison (2010)'s Perspective Control model. Taken together the results from the current work have implications for the design and testing of future sensor platforms in order to overcome the challenges facing current generation platforms and improve thei (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2017, Communication

Employees can provide invaluable input to organizations when they can freely express their opinions at work. Employees, however, may not believe that it is safe or efficacious to voice out their concerns at work due to various reasons. How features of communication channels affect employees' safety and efficacy perceptions is largely ignored in existing voice models. Therefore this study seeks to understand how the anonymity and visibility affordances of a communication channel influence employees' safety and efficacy perceptions, and thus their intention to engage in prohibitive voice at work. A 2 (anonymity level) x 2 (visibility level) between-subjects experiment was conducted to test the relationships. The results indicate that the more anonymous and less visible participants perceive a voicing channel to be, the safer and the more efficacious they evaluate the channel. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2003, Human Factors and Industrial/Organizational Psychology MS

Stohr, R. Eric. M.S., Department of Psychology, Wright State University, 2003. Effects of Size Change on Speed Judgments of Frontal-Parallel Motion. Given that size changes of objects provide an indication of motion in depth and that humans are capable of detecting small differences in speed, this study sought to explore the perceptual ramifications of changing the size of objects during a speed discrimination task. Three experiments were conducted for this study, two speed judgment experiments and a depth matching experiment, to determine if observers interpret the size change as moving in depth and incorporate perceived depth into judgments of speed. In additon, stimuli for all experiments were presented on three backgrounds (blank, textured dot field, and optic flow field) to determine any effect of contextual background information. The stimulus for the two speed judgment experiments consisted of a white circular disk that moved right to left across the display, while maintaining, increasing, or decreasing in size. The constant virtual speed experiment stimulus coupled a hyperbolic rate of size change with a deceleration along the frontal parallel plane to simulate constant motion in depth along three “virtual” trajectories. On the other hand, the constant orthogonal speed experiment stimulus maintained constancy in terms of both the rates of size change and the frontal parallel (i.e., plane orthogonal to the line of sight) speed, which perceptually indicated acceleration (contracting stimulus) or deceleration (expanding stimulus) into depth. Both speed experiments used a two-interval, standard versus comparison, forced-choice procedure in which the task of the observer was to indicate the interval that had the fastest speed. Within each of the speed experiments, each stimulus (e.g., constant size, expanding, or contracting) served as the standard to which each other stimulus was compared (nine comparison conditions). The depth experiment stimulus was similar to (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, Psychology

This dissertation investigates the neural representation of complex social information by employing multivariate methods such as functional connectivity classification analyses and intersubject representational similarity analyses (IS-RSA). The present research examines the functional network associated with social interactions as well as the association between neural similarity and individual differences in emotional reactivity and empathy. Study 1 utilizes multivariate pattern analyses (MVPA) to classify different categories of social interactions based on connectivity patterns between brain regions involved in social perception. Study 2 uses IS-RSA to investigate how individual differences in emotional reactivity modulates the neural representation of different social interactions. Study 3 explores how idiosyncrasies in behavioral measures of empathy are associated with neural synchrony during the observation of naturalistic social scenes depicting specific characters and various types of interactions. Study 1 demonstrates that contextual categorical information about social interactions is better classified by a network of regions rather than within a single region of interest. Studies 2 and 3 suggest that idiosyncrasies in trait-like attributes such as empathy or emotional reactivity reflects differences in neural representation of complex social information. This research contributes to our understanding of how social information is processed in the brain and sheds light on the impact of individual differences on social perception.

PHD, Kent State University, 2023, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

Although speech recognition is often experienced as relatively effortless, there are a number of common challenges that can make speech perception more difficult and may greatly impact speech intelligibility (e.g., environmental noise). However, there is some indication that visual cues can be also used to improve speech recognition (Baratchu et al., 2008) — especially when the visual information is congruent with the speech signal (e.g., talking faces; Massaro, 2002). However, it is less clear how noisy visual environments may impact speech perception when the visual signal is not congruous with the speech signal. In fact, adding incongruous visual information will likely detract precious cognitive resources away from the auditory process, making speech perception in noise a more cognitively difficult task. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to examine cognitive processing effort by measuring changes in pupillary response during the processing of speech in noise paired with incongruous visual noise. The primary hypothesis was that noisy visual information would negatively impact the processing of speech in noisy environments and that would result in a greater pupil diameter. To test this I used a common eye-tracking measure (i.e., pupillometry) to assess the cognitive processing effort needed to process speech in the presence of congruent and incongruous visual noise. The results indicated that visual noise recruits cognitive processing effort away from the auditory signal. Results also indicated that different combinations of auditory and visual noise have a significant impact on cognitive processing effort, which led to an increase in pupil dilation response during speech perception.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2021, Psychology

Although decades of research have examined how the perceptions of one's own attitude (i.e., as moral, certain, etc.) influence attitude-relevant thoughts and behavior, little is known about the consequences of perceiving these features in the attitudes of others. The present research investigates how perceptions of the strength of others' attitudes impact interpersonal inferences. Specifically, the present research demonstrates that targets perceived to hold morally-based attitudes, as well as confident attitudes, are inferred to be less likely to change their attitudes. More importantly, two important consequences of this inference are highlighted. First, people are disinclined to engage in attitude-relevant advocacy with people who hold morally-based or attitudes held with certainty due to the inferred difficulty to change the attitude. Second, when individuals with morally-based or certain attitudes contradict themselves, they are more likely to be judged as hypocritical due to the greater surprise at such an attitudinal inconsistency. In an initial pilot study, we provide evidence that the perceived morality of another person's attitudes is associated with perceptions that the attitude is difficult to change. In a second pilot study, we provide evidence that perceptions of another having certainty in an attitude is also associated with perceptions that the attitude is difficult to change. Then, we proceed to demonstrate some of the advances that these insights can provide. In Studies 1a and 1b, we show that this inference of difficulty in changing the minds of targets with a morally-based (vs. practically-based) attitude reduces perceivers' willingness to engage the targets in attitude-relevant dialogue. In Studies 2a and 2b, we show that perceivers are also less willing to advocate to targets with certain (vs. uncertain) attitudes as well as morally-based attitudes. Next, in Study 3, we show that inferences about the difficulty of changing the mind (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2021, Psychology

The focus of this study was to look at how quickly rulesets learned in VR would decay after doing a similar task in reality. Alongside this study is the impact that gender has when tools designed for one gender in mind are used by another gender. Miami students (N = 12) were asked to do both a virtual and real maze inside of the SPoCC lab. They were then compared to themselves on how many mistakes they made from the beginning of the real maze trial versus the end of it. It was found that males made fewer mistakes at the end of the real maze trial than at the beginning. Females did not seem to adjust to the experimental setup at all, which was reflected in them never making any mistakes in the real maze trial. Given these findings, more participants are needed, as well as better tools in the setup, in order to conclusively find the rate of decay for learned rulesets.

Master of Arts, Case Western Reserve University, 2021, Cognitive Linguistics

The present study generated a survey addressing potential gender attribution to creaky voice among self-identified transmasculine participants. This survey aimed to gauge the perceived masculinity and femininity of three vocal samples, as well as the perception of effort in the voices. Additionally, information about participants' experience with and ideologies surrounding techniques of vocal masculinization was collected as a potential cause of perceptual differences among participants. The survey generated insights for future modifications to studies focusing on transgender individuals, specifically those within the transmasculine community. Considerations for future research and difficulties faced with the creation and conduction of the present study are discussed in detail.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Psychology

The current research program seeks to explain a phenomenal visual experience. Namely, appearances of the shapes of three-dimensional (3D) rigid objects remain to be rigid when we walk around and view them from different angles and distances. This is a hard problem to solve given the ambiguities arising from the optical projection and constantly changing retinal images as we navigate. Two hypotheses were proposed. Hypothesis 1 explains this phenomenon by arguing that the visual system can reconstruct the 3D shape veridically. Alternatively, Hypothesis 2 argues that even though the reconstructed 3D shape is distorted with viewpoint, the resulting nonrigidity in the 3D shape percepts is not detected by the visual system under ordinary circumstances. Eight psychophysical experiments were conducted to test the two hypotheses by investigating the perception of 3D metric shape of well-structured polyhedral objects from binocular stereopsis. In Experiment 1 to 7, participants adjusted the 3D shape of an adjustable object to match the perceived 3D shape of a reference object under a variety of conditions. In Experiment 8, participants discriminated a nonrigid polyhedral object from a rigid one in an immersive virtual reality environment. Results of the eight experiments reported in this thesis reject Hypothesis 1 and support Hypothesis 2. Thus, the phenomenal rigid appearance of rigidly moving objects does not arise from the veridical perception of 3D shape. Rather, the 3D metric shape percepts vary systematically with viewing distance (Experiment 1, 4, 7), object size (Experiment 2), in-plane orientation (Experiment 3), different types of optical projection (Experiment 4, 5, 6), and scene context (Experiment 7). And testing with more symmetric objects or in a more naturalist scene context cannot make the perception more accurate (Experiment 7). However, a comparison between participants' performance in Experiment~8 with their performance in Experiment 1, 4, or 7 suggests th (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2019, Experimental Psychology (Arts and Sciences)

There has been a growing interest among researchers in studying the influence of emotion on decision-making from both the situational (i.e., emotional state) and dispositional (i.e., emotional trait) perspectives. Following this research line, the author and colleagues further incorporated the behavioral motivation systems into the influences of a specific emotion on decision-making and proposed the perspective of risk preference to explain and predict findings in several studies. Until now, however, no study has empirically investigated the perspective of risk preference. Thus, the present study aims to bridge the gap between theoretical assumptions and empirical evidence by directly examining whether three anxiety-related factors (state anxiety, trait anxiety, and the behavioral inhibition system) influence risk and/or uncertainty perception in the intertemporal choice and moral decision-making domains. The study also aims to explore whether risk and uncertainty perception moderated intertemporal and moral decision-making. Furthermore, it intends to provide practical evidence to support the existence of perceived risk and uncertainty in non-risk-typical decision-making fields. The present study covers two experiments: intertemporal choice and moral decision- making. In both experiments, participants (Nintertemporal = 160; Nmoral = 161) were recruited via an online psychological experiment system and received one course credit in exchange. They were randomly assigned to either the anxiety or the control condition. Emotion induction was the same in both experiments. Anxiety was induced in three steps. First, participants were instructed to read a paragraph about the difficulty in finding a major-matched job after graduation and then to write about the aspects in the situation that made them feel most anxious. Second, participants were asked to recall three anxious experiences of their own lives. Third, participants were requested to vividly describe the most anx (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, Oberlin College, 1962, Art

The main objective of the study is to propose a provisional plan for an improved teaching program aimed at the development and application of "spatial" relationships in the graphic arts. In the previous section, we have mentioned the role of past experience in building up the perceptual level. However, teaching requires that we make the best possible use of student's existing level of experience, and build upon that in planning the optimum use of the present experience. By the proper use of the immediate learning situation, we may assist students to become more aware of and project their understanding of "spatial" relationships through a sequential program of study. For the problem in artistic activity is not simply to perceive depth, but to discover or invent means for its representation. If a student's artistic activity has been meager, he may experience or realize for the first time, symbolic, pictorial forms embodying basic concepts of space on which he can build progressively richer coordinations of depth conventions. If the student's artistic activity has been adequate or full, problems in composition involving rather elementary ideas of depth will serve as a recapitulation and reinforcement of already understood techniques. In such a case, his compositions are likely to show a more sophisticated control of the problems of depth and to develop aesthetic qualities and complexities as yet inaccessible to the more naive student. In either case, both past experience and present opportunity should interact to determine the precise nature of the accomplishment. Recognizing the pertinence of immediate experience to genuine learning and the development of perception, educational philosophy ought to seek every means to align teaching methods with a natural process of learning.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Philosophy

One of the most defining features of Rene Descartes' philosophy is the nature and degree of his dualism. As conventional readings go, Descartes neatly divides reality into two radically distinct types of substances—mind and body—and never the two shall meet. I argue, however, that Descartes does not split the mind from body as cleanly as conventional readings might think, that the two metaphysical hemispheres are not entirely separate. There is a bridge linking the two together, and the road map for discovery is found in Descartes' theory of sensory perception. Descartes' views on sensory perception is the most apt topic in which to seek an understanding of the relationship between mind and body because, in general, it requires some explanation about how immaterial souls are informed by material bodies; that is, the topic demands that Descartes hypothesize about how perceptions—which he considers exclusive to minds—can be of things wholly distinct in kind, things that are essentially material. Throughout his writings, Descartes pays most attention to visual sensory perception, and so I follow in suit. Moreover, I concentrate on visual shape perception because, as I argue, understanding this aspect of Descartes' philosophy leads to insights about the precise relationship between mind and body. To give a feel for the overall shape of my reading, consider “veil of perception” interpretations of Descartes. Such readings understand Descartes as wedging a “third thing” between perceivers and the perceived object, standardly ascribing the “third thing” to the mind itself. On such readings of Descartes, sensory access to the physical world is mediated by mental images. So, according to these readings, one sees an idea of a tree, but not the tree itself. According to the reading of Descartes I offer, however, the veil is sheerer than previously thought. For I argue that the “third thing” bridging perceivers with the perceived belongs to bodily substance. In par (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, 2017, Psychology, General

Traditionally, visual-spatial perception research has focused quite heavily on the visual information necessary to perceive the environment and the locations of objects within that space. Recent research has illustrated that non-visual factors like emotional states, motivations, and physical abilities can affect both perceptions and behaviors within the environment. Social factors may also impact the way we see the space around us. This research investigates whether psychological closeness affects perceived egocentric (self-to-target) distance, an important component of spatial perception. Across two experiments, participants made several estimates of the distance between themselves and another “target” person. This target person represented either someone with whom the participant shared a relationship (his/her best friend), or a stranger (confederate Alex); I hypothesized that individuals' feelings of psychological closeness to their best friends would lead to judgments of closer visual-spatial proximity to visual representations of their friends than to visual representations of a stranger. Though participants did indeed report feeling significantly greater levels of psychological closeness to their best friends, there was no evidence that psychological closeness affected subsequent visual-spatial distance judgments in the form of verbal reports of distance (Experiment 1), visual matching of the distance (Experiment 2) or blindfolded walking to targets (Experiments 1 and 2). The contribution of these studies to the ongoing debate regarding the robustness and resilience of non-visual contributions to spatial cognition are discussed in the context of methodological limitations of the present studies and directions for future research in this area.

MS, Kent State University, 2017, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

Nutrigenomics is a rapidly developing field of study involving the relationship between genetics and nutrition. Multiple companies are now offering personalized dietary advice based on the results of genetic testing. College students, who are educated and more familiar with new technology may provide valuable information about perceptions toward nutrigenomic technology while it is still in its early stages of development. The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and perception of college students toward genetic testing for personalized nutrition. Participants in this study were college students from Kent State University who completed an online survey administered through Qualtrics. The survey assessed perception toward nutrigenomics along with basic genetics knowledge. Analysis of the data revealed a general lack of genetics knowledge among college students. In addition, only 25% of participants had ever heard or read about nutrigenomic testing. The overall perception toward these developments was more positive than negative. There were significant differences in genetics knowledge and perception of nutrigenomics among various class ranks and majors. In addition, findings indicate a significant relationship between participation in college level nutrition and/or genetics courses, higher genetics knowledge and more positive perceptions toward nutrigenomics. Individuals who scored higher on the genetics knowledge assessment also displayed a more positive perception toward nutrigenomics. More research is needed to understand how college students perceive nutrigenomics and what factors affect their attitude toward these scientific developments. Future studies with a valid and reliable questionnaire are needed to confirm the findings of this study.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1987, Graduate School

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1985, Graduate School

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1986, Graduate School

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1983, Graduate School

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1983, Graduate School