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Updated: May 5, 2026
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Methods to Test Visual Attention Online
Published on: February 19, 2015
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Conducting online visual psychophysics experiments: A replication assessment of two face processing studies.
Caroline Blais1, Daniel Fiset1, Laurianne Côté1
1Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, CP 1250, Succ. Hull, Gatineau J8X 3X7, Canada.
Vision Research
|May 13, 2025
Summary
Online research in vision science is now feasible for face recognition studies. A new platform, Pack & Go, enables reliable lab-quality visual perception experiments with diverse participants online.
Area of Science:
- Vision Sciences
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Computer Interaction
Background:
- Conducting visual perception experiments online is challenging due to the need for rigorous control over the testing environment and stimulus properties.
- Online research offers significant advantages, including access to larger, more diverse participant samples, which can address underpowered studies and improve generalizability.
- Increasing diversity in face recognition research is crucial, as cultural and geographical factors are known to influence face processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a new online research platform, Pack & Go (VPixx Technologies), for conducting vision science experiments.
- To assess the feasibility of online visual perception experiments, specifically in face recognition, using real-time stimulus manipulation.
- To compare the validity of online versus lab-based results in face recognition research.
Main Methods:
- Two face recognition experiments were conducted online using the Pack & Go platform, supporting MATLAB and Python.
- A data-driven psychophysical method with real-time stimulus manipulation, utilizing Psychtoolbox functions, was employed.
- Experiment 1 varied experimental control over the environment and stimuli; Experiment 2 measured face recognition and information utilization online, comparing to lab results.
Main Results:
- Highly similar results were obtained between lab-based and online testing conditions across both experiments.
- The Pack & Go platform successfully supported complex visual perception experiments online.
- The study demonstrated that online research can yield comparable data to traditional lab settings for face recognition.
Conclusions:
- The Pack & Go platform is a viable tool for conducting robust online vision science research, including face recognition studies.
- Online research platforms can effectively enhance participant diversity and study generalizability in vision science.
- The findings support the expansion of visual perception research into online environments without compromising data quality.
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