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Face recognition, pose and ecological validity
Author(s) -
Logie Robert H.,
Baddeley Alan D.,
Woodhead Muriel M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
applied cognitive psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1099-0720
pISSN - 0888-4080
DOI - 10.1002/acp.2350010108
Subject(s) - ecological validity , psychology , facial recognition system , quarter (canadian coin) , face validity , reliability (semiconductor) , face (sociological concept) , cognitive psychology , applied psychology , social psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , cognition , developmental psychology , pattern recognition (psychology) , psychometrics , power (physics) , social science , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , sociology , history
This paper describes five experiments with two main aims; first, to assess the effects of variations in photographic facial pose on recognizability. A second, more fundamental aim was to examine the reliability of laboratory findings relevant to face recognition, in more ecologically valid settings, and to develop a methodology to further this aim. In Experiment 1 best performance was achieved with provision of three facial poses, namely full‐face, three‐quarter and profile views. With a single pose a three‐quarter view was the most helpful. Experiments 2 and 3 attempted to evaluate these findings in a real‐life setting using the general public or paid volunteers who attempted to identify a live target in a town centre from a previously presented photograph. The general public produced a very poor response, and the volunteers produced a low detection and high false recognition rate. Experiment 4 increased constraints on the experimental environment and produced a reasonable hit rate, but no effects of pose. Experiment 5 was a laboratory study where the presentation of a live target preceded photographic recognition. Effects of pose reappeared in line with results of Experiment 1. These results underline the danger involved in making practical recommendations arising from purely laboratory based research.