Role of color in face recognition

One of the key challenges in face perception lies in determining the contribution of different cues to face identification. In this study, we focus on the role of color cues. Although color appears to be a salient attribute of faces, past research has suggested that it confers little recognition advantage for identifying people. Here we report experimental results suggesting that color cues do play a role in face recognition and their contribution becomes evident when shape cues are degraded. Under such conditions, recognition performance with color images is significantly better than that with grayscale images. Our experimental results also indicate that the contribution of color may lie not so much in providing diagnostic cues to identity as in aiding low-level image-analysis processes such as segmentation

Information Extraction From Different Data Representation Forms: Charts and Tables

Presenting data in the form of graphs and tables has long been considered as an important tool for decision making. Extracting information from these presentation forms are considered to be cognitively intensive tasks. Prior research works on aspects of presentation forms have produced inconsistent and conflicting results. In this study, we examine effects of tabular and graphical (bar, line, and pie) forms on information extraction. Graphs were examined with solid and textured patterns as well. We conducted a laboratory experiment where in subjects answered set of questions which would require them to extract information from the presentation display. Our study reveals that tables, even though they have higher response rate, produced more accurate results than graphs. Comparison within graphs showed that bar charts had a lower response rate than pie and line charts, while pie charts produced the least accurate results. Comparison of solid and textured patterns in graphs revealed that they are not an influencing factor in regards to information extraction. We also provide detailed comparison of current research findings against to prior research results

Group Decision Support for Resource Allocation Decisions in Three Person Groups

This research studied the effects of a Group Decision Support System (GDSS) for face-to-face negotiations in three-person groups. The GDSS equipped the groups with full information about each other’s individual preferences regarding a resource allocation problem. In a partial replication of a GDSS experiment, we examined the effect of this full information treatment on post-meeting consensus level, the level of integrative behaviour, and the level of distributive behaviour in the groups. 96 threeperson groups participated. Groups using the GDSS reached a higher level of post-meeting consensus compared to groups not using a GDSS. This finding supports the theory that negotiators lower their demands and increase their involvement if full information is available. No support could be found for the hypothesis that the treatment had an impact on integrative or distributive behaviour

The Joint Effects of Interactions between Data Display and Task Variables on Task Performance

Recent studies of data presentation focus on dependencies that exist between data displays and specific tasks. We propose that joint interactions between data display and key task variables contribute to these dependencies. This paper reports the findings of an experiment which investigates the effects of interactions between display fonnat and two task variables: question type and question complexity. We find that both interactions significantly influence task performance

Graph usage in financial reports: evidence from Portuguese listed companies

When assessing investment options, investors focus on the graphs of annual reports, despite lack of auditing. If poorly constructed, graphs distort perceptions and lead to inaccurate decisions. This study examines graph usage in all the companies listed on Euronext Lisbon in 2013. The findings suggest that graphs are common in the annual reports of Portuguese companies and that, while there is no evidence of Selectivity Distortion, both Measurement and Orientation Distortions are pervasive. The study recommends the auditing of financial graphs, and urges preparers and users of annual reports to be wary of the possibility of graph distortion

Graph usage in annual reports, evidence from Norwegian listed companies

As investors and other users of annual reports often focus their attention on graphs, it is important that they portray accurate and reliable information. However, previous studies show that graphs often distort information and mislead users. This study analyses graph usage in annual reports from the 52 most traded Norwegian companies. The findings suggest that Norwegian companies commonly use graphs, and that the graph distortions, presentational enhancement and measurement distortion, are present. No evidence of selectivity was found. This study recommends development of guidelines for graphical disclosure, and advises preparers and users of annual reports to be aware of misleading graphs

The use and misuse of graphs in stand-alone annual reports evidence from Brazilian listed companies

Previous studies have proven that graphs are often manipulated to feign a better and sometimes unreal image of the company to investors and other users of annual reports, who rely on graphical disclosure in their decision-making process. This paper uses hand collected data from the reports of a representative sample of 57 Brazilian companies that belong to the Bovespa Index in 2014, and presents an empirical analysis of the use and misuse of graphs in their annual reports. Results not only reveal that the usage of graphs in annual reports is very important to Brazilian companies, but also that there is evidence of measurement distortion (favorable deviations for the companies) and presentational enhancement. In addition, the study shows that the lower the corporate’s performance and governance, the higher the probability of measurement distortion. Although there is no evidence of selectivity, the study proves that companies with worse corporate governance are more likely to present this type of distortion. This paper expects to address this issue to preparers and users of annual reports in the country, and to draw attention of accounting regulatory institutions to formulate standard guidelines of graphical disclosure to avoid misleading information through graphs