This set of studies used event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate the electrophysiology of face recognition as it may occur in real-life circumstances including eyewitness identification. Research using photographs has identified two ERP components as being associated with memory function, the N250 (an early indicator of perceptual recognition) and the P300 (associated with stimulus evaluation, task-relevance, and probability), however, there is no published research examining the relationship between these components and memory for live events, and recognizing a face seen briefly in real-life is somewhat different than recognizing a face only seen in a photograph. The present set of three studies employed a “target / non-target” paradigm that used a live interaction at each encoding stage. In Experiment 1, participants were introduced to and asked to identify their study experimenter as the target. In the second experiment, participants were introduced to the same experimenter and asked to imagine that they witnessed her committing a convenience-store robbery. Participants were asked to “cover” for the experimenter by choosing a different photo from the line-up to accuse as the culprit – they are asked to lie. In Experiment 3, participants witnessed a live simulated theft and were asked to identify the culprit from a line-up. In all three experiments the line-up paradigm was identical – participants were shown a repeated series of sequentially-presented photographs and were asked to correctly identify one target among nine foils (non-targets), while brainwaves were recorded. Results showed that across all three studies, both the N250 and P300 were attenuated for the person selected as the target, in comparison to correct rejections of foils. Additional results from Experiment 2 showed that, compared to rejections of foils, both the N250 and P300 were enhanced for rejections of the experimenter-photo when participants were “covering” for her. In Experiment 3, participants who were unable to correctly identify the culprit showed that the N250 to incorrect rejections of the culprit was larger than correct rejections of foils. Finally, a comparison of participants who correctly identified the culprit and those who incorrectly identified a foil showed that the amplitude of the N250 and P300 to the selected culprit were equivalent regardless of eyewitness accuracy. Collectively, results from Experiments 1, 2 and 3 provide support that the memory effects indicated by the N250 and P300 components reported in laboratory studies generalize to person memories acquired during live interactions.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-48). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

This paper provides evidence to support the hypothesis that the locus coeruleus – norephinephrine (LC-NE) system is the neurophysiological basis of both the attentional blink (AB) and the event related potential (ERP) component known as the P300. The LC-NE system is thought to provide a brief burst of processing facilitation in response to motivationally salient events. The AB refers to decreased accuracy for reporting the second of two targets (T1 and T2) inserted into a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). The LC-NE account of the AB holds that the AB is the result of a refractory-like period in LC-NE activity. The LC-NE account of the P300 suggests the P300 is the electrophysiological manifestation of the activity of the LC-NE system. I support the three-way link between these different aspects of brain activity by predicting differences in the AB dependent on characteristics of the P300 in response to T1 (T1-P300).

Language may play a key role in determining the relation between motivation and higher-order cognitive processes, as language has been shown to have a motivational function in preschoolers (Chiu & Alexander, 2000) and has also been implicated in the development of executive functioning (Hughes & Graham, 2002). The particular aspect of language which may best serve to connect these processes is self-directed speech (i.e., private speech) as the production of private speech is an indication of language and thought merging to form a new level of cognitive organization (Berk, 1992; Chiu & Alexander, 2000). Determining if the relation between motivational orientations and executive functioning can be mediated by private speech was examined to provide insight into the way in which motivational orientations and cognitive skills are related. In order to explore the role of private speech as a mediator, 4- to 6-year-old children were administered two EF tasks, the Tinkertoy test and the Tower of Hanoi, during which the impact of various reward contingencies on EF performance and self-directed speech elicitation was investigated. Although relations were found between measures of motivation, private speech, and EF performance, private speech did not act as a generative mechanism through which motivation influenced children’s performance on the EF tasks. This study represents the first attempt to explore such a mediational model in this age group and results provide preliminary information about how private speech, motivation, and EF are related with regard to children’s goal directed behaviors.

Qualitative research in relation to treatment approaches for youth with mental health difficulties has been limited and, in particular, very little is known about how youth experience therapy. This qualitative study describes adolescent experiences of self in the context of Multiple Family Therapy groups. An ethnographic method was used for data collection and analysis. Two interrelated themes emerged that relate to the structure and the processes that contributed to co-construction of the group culture and the adolescents’ perceptions of self. The first theme: “I feel a whole lot better about myself”, relates to aspects of the group culture that supported the adolescents to experience an enhanced working self concept. The second theme: “We knew it was possible to change”, relates to transformations in the adolescents’ relational selves that they associated with their experiences in the group. These findings have implications regarding the potential of the MFT model to support youth: to express themselves authentically; to strengthen their sense of self; and to positively transform their relational selves, thus supporting their healthy development and future well-being as adults.

Qualitative research in relation to treatment approaches for youth with mental health difficulties has been limited and, in particular, very little is known about how youth experience therapy. This qualitative study describes adolescent experiences of self in the context of Multiple Family Therapy groups. An ethnographic method was used for data collection and analysis. Two interrelated themes emerged that relate to the structure and the processes that contributed to co-construction of the group culture and the adolescents’ perceptions of self. The first theme: “I feel a whole lot better about myself”, relates to aspects of the group culture that supported the adolescents to experience an enhanced working self concept. The second theme: “We knew it was possible to change”, relates to transformations in the adolescents’ relational selves that they associated with their experiences in the group. These findings have implications regarding the potential of the MFT model to support youth: to express themselves authentically; to strengthen their sense of self; and to positively transform their relational selves, thus supporting their healthy development and future well-being as adults.

Office environment and its configuration evolve constantly. Research has shown that office environment affects the health of the employees, at work as well as off work. This study used an experimental design aiming to find out how mental workload is affected by background noise in an environment similar to office landscapes compared to a silent environment that resembles a private office. Subjects performed tasks in a simulated office environment where brain activity (EEG), sweat levels (GSR) and self-assessments (NASA-TLX) measured mental workload. Results from the different measures were later compared. NASA-TLX showed that background noise made the task more mentally demanding than an environment without background noise. However, the EEG and GSR data did not show any measurable effect of the sound conditions. A possible explanation to the results could be that the subjects were stressed before the experiment and that the tasks were too mentally demanding. The result regarding perceived mental demand in a noisy environment is consistent with previous research. Perceived mental demand can have a negative impact on health and productivity according to previous research. / Kontorsmiljön och dess utformning är i ständig utveckling. Forskning har visat att kontorsmiljön påverkar de anställdas hälsa, både på och utanför arbetet. Denna studie använde en experimentell design med syfte att ta reda på hur mental arbetsbelastning påverkas av bakgrundsljud, liknande ljudmiljön i öppna kontorslandskap, jämfört med en tyst miljö som mer påminner om privata kontor. Försökspersoner utförde uppgifter i en simulerad kontorsmiljö där hjärnaktivitet (EEG), svettnivåer (GSR) och självskattningar (NASA-TLX) mätte arbetsbelastningen. Resultatet av de olika mätningarna jämfördes. NASA-TLX visade att bakgrundsljud gjorde en uppgift mer belastande än utan bakgrundsljud. Däremot kunde inte EEG- eller GSR-data visa på någon mätbar skillnad mellan ljudbetingelserna. En möjlig förklaring till detta är att försökspersonerna kan ha varit stressade innan experimentet och att uppgifterna var för mentalt belastande. Att öppna kontorslandskap upplevdes som mer mentalt belastande stämmer överens med vad tidigare forskning visat. Upplevd mental belastning kan enligt tidigare forskning ha en negativ effekt på hälsa och produktivitet.

Phishing is a reoccurring issue, which uses social engineering as an attack strategy. The prevention of these attacks is often content-based filters. These solutions are however not always perfect, and phishing emails can still be able to get through the filters. We suggest a new strategy to combat phishing. The strategy is a technical platform which uses the psychology concept nudge. Nudge is a concept that can be used to change a certain behaviour, in this case to make people more cautious when reading their emails.The objective of this thesis is to suggest a nudge using a technical platform regarding possible desensitization. The nudge aims to change email related behaviours to more healthy ones. To get indications if the nudge has benefits, a qualitative survey was made. When using a psychology-based solution, one must address the possibility of desensitization. To minimize possible desensitization, a quantitative analysis was made where different ways to minimize desensitization were assessed. Data for this analysis was gathered by a simulation modeling, where the simulation aimed to replicate a user performing email related events.The conclusion of the simulation results showed that a whitelist approach was the most appropriate for our nudge. The approach minimized the chance of possible desensitization while having a low risk of not performing a nudge when needed. The conclusion of the survey results was that there was an indication of behavioural change and that there existed a risk of possible desensitization. / Nätfiske är ett återkommande problem, som använder sig av social manipulation som attackstrategi. Försvar mot dessa attacker är ofta innehållsbaserade filter. Dessa lösningar är inte alltid perfekta, då nätfiske kan ibland gå förbi filterna. Vi föreslår en ny strategi för att bekämpa nätfiske. Strategin är en teknisk plattform som använder det psykologiska konceptet nudge. Nudge är ett koncept som kan användas för att ändra ett visst beteende, i detta fall för att göra människor mer försiktiga när de läser sina emails.Syftet med detta arbete är att föreslå en nudge i en teknisk plattform där man tar hänsyn till eventuell desensibilisering. Nudgens mål är att ändra emailrelaterade beteenden så att beteendena blir säkrare. En kvalitativ undersökning gjordes för att få indikationer om nudgen har möjliga fördelar. När man använder en psykologibaserad lösning så måste man ta itu med möjligheten av desensibilisering. En kvantitativ analys gjordes där olika sätt att minimera desensibilisering bedömdes, för att sedan kunna minimera desensibiliseringen. Data för denna analys samlades in genom en simuleringsmodellering, där simuleringens syfte var att replikera en användare som utför email-relaterade händelser.Slutsatsen av simuleringsresultaten visade att en whitelist-metod var den mest lämpliga för vår nudge. Metoden minimerade risken för möjlig desensibilisering, samtidigt som den hade en låg risk att inte utföra en nudge när det behövdes. Slutsatsen av undersökningsresultatet från enkäten var att det fanns en indikation för beteendeförändringar och att det fanns en risk för eventuell desensibilisering av nudgen.

Die Fragestellung dieser Arbeit ist ob derzeit angebotene e-Government Systeme von älteren Nutzern angenommen werden und wie solche aufgebaut werden müssen, damit diese Nutzergruppe solche Systeme als eine nützliche Alternative zu Behördengängen annimmt. In unserer Forschung haben wir erforscht wie solche Anwendungen, welche von der Verwaltung für die gesamte Bevölkerung angeboten werden, aufgebaut werden sollten, damit diese von der gesamten Bevölkerung erfolgreich genutzt werde können. Zur Beantwortung dieser Fragestellung wurde eine dreistufige Forschung durchgeführt, welche an das ISO 9241-210 Entwicklungsmodell angelehnt ist. Die Forschung wurde parallel in Deutschland und Ungarn in Kooperation mit dem Fraunhofer FOKUS, dem Bundesministerium des Innern, der Bundesdruckerei und der Corvinus Universität Budapest durchgeführt. In der ersten Phase wurden die Erwartungen und Vorkenntnisse der Zielgruppe erforscht um die Eckpunkte und Prämissen festlegen zu können. Diese Erkenntnisse ermöglichten in der zweiten Phase die fundierte Auswahl einer Anwendung, welche als Basis für Nutzertests genutzt werden konnte. Die Testanwendung war das AusweisApp des elektronischen Personalausweises. Bei diesen Tests wurden die Nutzerfehler erfasst und die Akzeptanz durch die ASQ Methode gemessen. Anhand der gewonnen Erkenntnisse konnte die Guideline IGUAN entwickelt werden, welche eine standardisierte Herangehensweise zur Akzeptanzsteigerung darstellt. Dieses Konzept beinhaltet neben den speziellen, an ältere Nutzer angepassten Anforderungen, einem Kriterienkatalog, sowie die Abbildung der Prozesse wodurch eine Erhöhung der Akzeptanz für Ältere ermöglicht wird. In der dritten Phase der Forschung konnte die Guideline durch eine iterative Prototypentwicklung evaluiert und geprüft werden. Wir konnten beweisen, dass Verbesserungen beim Interface e-Government Anwendungen an die alternde Gesellschaft näher bringen, die Motivation erhöhen und das Nutzerempfinden nachhaltig verbessern. / Our research focuses on the question of acceptance of current e-government systems by elderly users. It describes how such systems should be designed and offered for this user group in order to provide an acceptable alternative to offline processes. In order to answer our research question, the research was structured into three phases along the development model of the ISO 9241-210. This enabled to identify not only the main factors of acceptance, but also the expectations of elderly users. Our research was conducted in parallel in Germany and Hungary in cooperation with the Fraunhofer FOKUS, the Federal Ministry of Interior, the Bundesdruckerei and the Corvinus University Budapest. The first phase of our research provided results about the expectations and previous experience of the users with e-government systems. This set the premises for the next phases of our research and provided us with information about the theoretical acceptance of systems by the age group. The results made it possible to select an application in the second phase, which was used as a model in the remaining phases. The selected application was the AusweisApp of the electronic ID card. The test measured the encountered errors and the acceptance of the system with the ASQ method. The obtain results allowed us to develop a generalised solution, the IGUAN guideline. This guideline makes a standardised approach to the usability improvement process possible. It contains the special requirements of elderly users, and a catalogue of criteria, which helps to develop an application in line with the set requirements. The third phase of our research was used a proof of concept for the IGUAN. The guideline was evaluated and tested with an iterative prototyping. We could therefore demonstrate that improvements in the interface make e-government application possible which are perceived useful and easy to use by elderly users. These improvements will measurably increase the user motivation and experience.

The successful execution of goal-directed movement requires the evaluation of many levels of errors. On one hand, the motor system needs to be able to evaluate ‘high-level’ errors indicating the success or failure of a given movement. On the other hand, as a movement is executed the motor system also has to be able to correct for ‘low-level’ errors - an error in the initial motor command or change in the motor command necessary to compensate for an unexpected change in the movement environment. The goal of the present research was to provide electroencephalographic evidence that error processing during motor control is evaluated hierarchically. The present research demonstrated that high-level motor errors indicating the failure of a system goal elicited the error-related negativity, a component of the event-related brain potential (ERP) evoked by incorrect responses and error feedback. The present research also demonstrated that low-level motor errors are associated with parietally distributed ERP component related to the focusing of visuo-spatial attention and context-updating. Finally, the present research includes a viable neural model for hierarchical error processing during motor control.