School of Social Sciences

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Browsing School of Social Sciences by Author "DeLucia, Patricia R."

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    Does Perceived Harm Underlie Effects of Vehicle Size on Overtaking Judgments during Driving?
    (Sage, 2018) Levulis, Samuel J.; DeLucia, Patricia R.; Yang, James; Nelson, Vivian; National Science Foundation, Award #1853936
    Previous research found that participants accepted more gaps during overtaking (in a driving simulator) when the oncoming vehicle was a motorcycle compared with larger vehicles (Levulis, DeLucia & Jupe, 2015). Results were due to the size of the vehicle independently of the type of the vehicle, and represented shifts in response bias instead of sensitivity. The implication is that drivers may perceive motorcycles as being farther away or travelling more slowly than larger vehicles due to their relatively small sizes, contributing to crashes that result from right-of-way violations (Hurt, Ouellet, & Thom, 1981; Pai, 2011). However, in Levulis et al. (2015) vehicle size was correlated with the perceived threat of collision and associated harm posed by the oncoming vehicle (collision with larger vehicles is more harmful than with smaller vehicles). To eliminate this confound, a driving simulator was used to examine whether overtaking judgments are influenced by the size of an oncoming vehicle even when threat of (simulated) collision is removed. The size-arrival effect occurred nevertheless, suggesting that participants relied on perceived distance and speed rather than perceived harm. Countermeasures to misjudgments of gaps during overtaking should include driver-assistance technologies and driver education.
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    Does the Size-Arrival Effect Occur With an Active Collision-Avoidance Task in an Immersive 3D Virtual Reality Environment?
    (Sage, 2021) DeLucia, Patricia R.; Braly, Adam M.; Savoy, Bria R.; National Science Foundation, Award #1853936
    Objective: Determine whether the size-arrival effect (SAE) occurs with immersive, 3D visual experiences and active collision-avoidance responses. Background: When a small near object and a large far object approach the observer at the same speeds, the large object appears to arrive before the small object, known as the size-arrival effect (SAE), which may contribute to crashes between motorcycles and cars. Prior studies of the SAE were limited because they used two dimensional displays and asked participants to make passive judgments. Method: Participants viewed approaching objects using a virtual reality (VR) headset. In an active task, participants ducked before the object hit them. In a passive prediction-motion (PM) judgment, the approaching object disappeared, and participants pressed a button when they thought the object would hit them. In a passive relative TTC judgment, participants reported which of two approaching objects would reach them first. Results: The SAE occurred with the PM and relative TTC tasks but not with the ducking task. The SAE can occur in immersive 3D environments but is limited by the nature of the task and display. Application: Certain traffic situations may be more prone to the SAE and have higher risk for collisions. For example, in left-turn scenarios (e.g., see Levulis, 2018), drivers make passive judgments when oncoming vehicles are far and optical expansion is slow, and binocular disparity putatively is ineffective. Collision-avoidance warning systems may be needed more in such scenarios than when vehicles are near and drivers’ judgments of TTC may be more accurate (DeLucia, 2008).
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    Learning to Become Researchers: Lessons Learned from a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program Focused on Research in the Psychological Sciences with Real-World Implications
    (Council on Undergraduate Research, 2021) DeLucia, Patricia R.; Woods, Amanda L.; Kim, Jeong-Hee; Nguyen, Ngan; Wang, Eugene W.; Yang, James; National Science Foundation, Award #1853936
    We report results of a research study of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site focused on psychological research with clear applications to the real world. Two cohorts of undergraduates engaged in rigorous research projects with implications for real-world problems such as driving, homeland security, relationships, human computer interaction, language comprehension and production, discrimination, and health psychology. To determine the effectiveness of the program, students completed the Kardash Ratings of Interns’ Research Skills, and the Undergraduate Research Questionnaire; kept journals, and completed exit interviews. Results indicated that students and mentors perceived an improvement in the students’ research skills. Students conveyed positive experiences and identified strengths and weaknesses of the program that can be used to improve future REUs.
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    Object shape affects hand grip function for heavy objects in younger and older adults
    (Taylor & Francis, 2021) Cruz, Jazmin; Garcia, Mario; Garza, Cecilia; DeLucia, Patricia R.; Yang, James; National Science Foundation, Award #1853936
    Hand-grip function while lifting objects is essential for performing everyday tasks. The Box and Block Test (BBT) has been used to assess hand-grip function and dexterity, but only light objects have been used. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of block surface, shape, age, and sex on hand dexterity during the movement of heavy blocks in the BBT. Forty healthy participants comprised of a younger group of 10 males (M =  22.50 years, SD = 2.01) and 10 females (M  =  22.20 years, SD = 2.66) between 20 and 30-years-old, and an older group of 10 males (M = 55.80 years, SD = 3.19) and 10 females (M = 55.90 years, SD = 2.56) between 50 and 60-years-old, performed the BBT using steel objects of different shapes (cylindrical and cubic) and different surfaces (plain steel, black spray-painted steel, and yellow non-slip spray-painted steel). The results indicated that repetition and shape had significant effects on the BBT score. Previous researchers have found that surface textures, age, and sex influenced hand dexterity for light objects, but these effects were not discovered in the current study. These findings suggest that shape should take priority over age, sex, and surface texture when designing tools to improve user handling.