Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Computerized speech-recognition technology holds strong promise for psychological assessment. This paper focuses on a computerized speech recognition application for screening depressive symptomatology. A Macintosh-based prototype has been developed that uses the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). The prototype is a HyperCard stack interfaced with the Voice Navigator II speech recognition application. The “talking” program represents a viable depression screening tool that is fully voice operated by the respondent. A pilot study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the computerized and written versions of the CES-D with a nonclinical adult population. A counterbalanced design will test for order effects and analyze the psychometric equivalence of the two methods. The limitations and future directions for speech-recognition applications in psychological assessment are discussed.

A Hypercard-based computer simulation is described here that allows testing and projections about decision making in commons dilemmas. Although the program applies to many different types of value tradeoffs, it focuses on issues related to the harvesting (and overharvesting) of natural resources. In particular, it uses the Atlantic fisheries to look at conflicts between satisfying immediate needs and protecting long-term sustainability. The program’s calculations and projections are based on variables including fish stocks, replenishment rate, average household expenses, value per ton of fish, amount of fishing per year, number of competitors, harvesting strategy of competing decision makers, actual fish caught per year, yearly income, and the levels of harvesting that would maintain a sustainable level of the resource. The multimedia interface includes on-screen movies, moving graphs of results, still photos, cartoon animation, and audio instructions. This simulation program provides an engaging way of collecting data on decision making in social dilemmas and is also well suited to public/educational presentations.

The complexity of psychological science often requires the collection and analysis of multidimensional data. Such data bring about a corresponding cognitive load that has led scientists to develop techniques of scientific visualization to ease the burden. This paper provides an introduction to scientific visualization techniques, a framework for understanding those techniques, and an assessment of the suitability of this approach for psychology. The framework employed builds on the notion of balancingnoise andsmooth in statistical analysis.

SDT_SP is a program written in Pascal that runs in IBM-compatible computers and calculates descriptive as well as inferential statistics for several experimental designs based on signal detection theory and Luce’s choice theory (e.g., one-interval designs, rating designs, two-alternative forced choice [2AFC] designs andmAFC designs). The program also generates receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves from individual as well as groupd’s. ROC curve plottings can be obtained merely by pressing a key on the computer keyboard. The program is accurate, menu driven, fast, and easy to use. It is available in English and in Spanish.

This paper describes the first year of operation of the CTI Centre for Psychology, which pro-motes the use of computers in psychology teaching in the U.K. We outline current use of computers in teaching and some of the obstacles to the effective development of computer-supported courses. In particular, we focus on the need for closer integration of innovative forms of teaching into courses. We describe the Centre’s strategy for supporting both conventional and innovative computer-supported teaching, and argue that effective use of software depends on both the instructional situation and the educational context.

A set of tachistoscope-emulation functions for IBM-PC-compatible computers equipped with the VGA display controller is described. C or Pascal programs including these functions can easily produce multifield tachistoscopic presentations of colored text.

Eye-position recordings have been used to produce detailed information about sampling and search behavior. The melding of magnetic head-tracking technology with eye-tracking systems has allowed for freer head movement, but not without problems. Although the requisite calibrations made before and after a reading might indicate good eye-tracking accuracy, point-of-gaze errors can occur if the reader leans toward a display, such as a film alternator. The error results from the characteristic that large metal masses can distort magnetic fields, leading to false magnetic sensor data. Corrections for this type of error have involved mapping the exact location and orientation of the magnetic sensor in the magnetic field by using a precision positioning device. We have devised a much cheaper method that relies on a fixture that holds the magnetic sensor in identical positions, with and without the distorting effect.

The Eyelink Toolbox software supports the measurement of eye movements. The toolbox provides an interface between a high-level interpreted language (MATLAB), a visual display programming toolbox (Psychophysics Toolbox), and a video-based eyetracker (Eyelink). The Eyelink Toolbox enables experimenters to measure eye movements while simultaneously executing the stimulus presentation routines provided by the Psychophysics Toolbox. Example programs are included with the toolbox distribution. Information on the Eyelink Toolbox can be found at http://psychtoolbox.org/.