Mobile eye tracking: Generalizability and limitations of the static scene viewing paradigm

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Ralf Engbert; Dr. Hans Arne Trukenbrod
• Subject Area: General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 362583976

Central motivation of our grant proposal is to critically question the generalizability of the static scene-viewing paradigm. The concerns under scrutiny were raised by Tatler and colleagues (2011) in a review article. We are planning to use mobile eye-tracking in a series of experiments to investigate four effects on eye movements: the effect (i) of body posture and position, (ii) of natural orientation towards a static scene, (iii) of movement preparation during scene perception, and (iv) of depth cues. We will analyze eye movement parameters like the distribution of saccade amplitudes, fixation positions, and fixation durations. In addition, we will compute pair correlation functions, a method from spatial statistics to further understand the dynamics of scanpath generation. Finally, the experimental data will be used twofold: to evaluate an existing dynamical model for the generation of scanpaths and to develop a model of oculomotor error during scene viewing. The models are thought to be fundamental for the development of process models for the control of eye movements in natural settings.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants