3. Funciones medibles
3.2. Convergencia Casi Uniforme
Figure 1. Layout of the response buttons for Phase 1 and 4 (single faces).
YES NO
ENTER
Figure 2. Layout of the response buttons for Phase 2 and 5 (pairs).
Red Blue Green Yellow
ENTER
Software.
The stimulus sets were delivered via a customised programme that presented all stimuli according to my pre-set specifications (see procedure, below). Each individual stimulus measured approximately 105 mm(w) x 160 mm(h). The paired presentations maintained these same dimensions but were spaced 25 mm apart horizontally. The programme also measured response time (in milliseconds) that commenced and terminated at predetermined events (i.e., button press) as a measure of reaction time to the stimuli in Phases 2 and 5 (see below).
The inclusion of computer-administered stimuli and response-capture provided a reduction in error by requiring discrete response options and accurate recording of reaction time. Given the emphasis on accuracy and speed across tasks, the need to reduce human factors from the data- recording was essential.
Pictures Of Facial Affect.
Although a range of facial stimuli have been developed for research use over the last few decades, the original Pictures Of Facial Affect (Ekman & Friesen, 1976) were used because of their standardised format (allowing for easy coding in forced choice experiments), long-standing history as a
research tool for validation of universally recognised affect displays, and the widest usage as stimuli for facial affect recognition across cultures and over time (for examples, see Figure 4) (Marsh & Blair, 2008). Despite these advantages, the Pictures Of Facial Affect, although universal in application, are monocultural in origin – reflecting predominantly white American faces
from the early 1970s. To date, no New Zealand normative data currently exist on this stimulus set as an indicator of universality of facial affect displays. The sole emphasis on static images offer concrete presentations of emotional expression that may not convey the transitional aspects of facial displays (e.g., fine muscular movements). Furthermore, the Pictures Of Facial Affect images are of heads and faces only and are squarely presented to the viewer, thus presenting a much narrower range of stimuli that may contribute to
accurate interpretations of the emotion than is normally available in real world settings (e.g., body posture, movement, tone of voice). This may be especially salient in collectivist cultures where broader contextual information may
receive emphasised attention rather than specific features.
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 4. Examples of the Pictures Of Facial Affect stimuli set: (a) fear; (b) disgust; and, (c) happy.
Colour Stroop test.
Although typically used to study selective attention, a modified Stroop test was introduced in this study to provide a task that would offer a mildly
challenging activity with sufficient face validity in that it would be usable on the same computer-based format as the facial stimuli. Developed by Stroop
(1935), the colour Stroop task was designed as a cognitive interference task (MacLeod, 1992), and was used in this study as a challenging task for participants that was administered in an ‘unfairness’ condition (see Figure 5, and procedure below). The non-invasive and innocuous nature of the task allowed the presentation of a condition designed to mildly elevate stress and negative affect with minimal risk of harm to either researcher or participant.
Red Blue Green Yellow
Blue Red Yellow Green
Yellow Blue Green Red
Red Green Yellow Blue
Yellow Blue Red Green
Green Red Blue Yellow
(a)
(b)
Blue Red Yellow Green
Yellow Red Green Blue
Green Yellow Blue Red
Yellow Blue Green Red
Red Green Blue Yellow
Blue Yellow Green Red
(c)
Figure 5. Stroop task conditions with (a) congruent word and colour, (b) colour patches, and (c) incongruent word and colour.
Procedure
Pre-experiment interview.
Interviews with participants were arranged via Principal Corrections Officers and Unit Managers if selected participants agreed to a face to face meeting. Participants met with the researcher in prison settings, such as interview rooms, therapy rooms, or in an office. Opportunity for karakia
timatanga was offered30 and introductions made before a fuller explanation of the study and opportunities for questions to be asked. Additional relevant information such as current medication regime (if applicable) was collected to ascertain any factors likely to impact on task performance (e.g.,
prosopagnosia). Participants were offered multiple opportunities to withdraw involvement. Informed consent forms (Appendix A) were signed.
Psychometric administration.
Prior to the computer tasks, participants were administered (in groups, or individually), the PPI-R, SA-45, CAVS, Farnsworth-Munsell D15, and the PANAS (pre- form). Almost all of the participants demonstrated sufficient literacy ability (as noted by verbal self-report or evidenced by reading aloud some items from the measures). I offered assistance to the few who appeared to struggle with the verbally demanding aspects of the procedure.
Experimental trial Phase 1 – Accuracy.
Participants were invited to sit facing the laptop. In addition to my providing a verbal brief, the participants were instructed to attend to a series
30
of stimuli (single faces) and respond using the response box. This first task required participants to match a given facial stimulus (e.g., a smiling woman) with the matching emotion word, or closest approximation amongst the available options (see Figure 1), by pressing the corresponding button (e.g., ‘Happy’). Verbal instructions also appeared on the screen (see Figure 6).
Thank you for taking part in this study. Very shortly you will see a series of images of people’s faces. Your task is to tell us (using the buttons below) what emotion is being shown.
For example:
If you think the person in the image is happy, then press the “Happy” key. If you think the person in the image is surprised, then press the “Surprise”
key. Please note:
For each image, you will only be able to choose ONE emotion option. You will NOT get an opportunity to go back and repeat any trials. Choose carefully, but do not take too long to make your choice.
You will now be presented with 2 test items to get you familiar with this task. When you are ready, press ENTER
Figure 6. Example of an instruction screen presented to participants prior to each experimental phase.
Following the participant’s selection by button-press, the monitor would display a blank white screen for 1 s after which the next image would appear. Each image in this phase was presented individually. Following two test items, the participants would be presented with an encouraging message before being instructed to respond to 28 stimuli (see Figure 7). Accuracy on this task was established by a simple count of correct responses.