Characterizing visual behaviour in a lineup task

Abstract

Eye tracking was used to monitor participants' visual behaviour while viewing lineups in order to determine whether gaze behaviour predicted decision accuracy. Participants viewed taped crimes followed by simultaneous lineups. Participants (N-=-34) viewed 4 target-present and 4 target-absent lineups. Decision time, number of fixations and duration of fixations differed for selections vs. non-selections. Correct and incorrect selections differed only in terms of comparison-type behaviour involving the selected face. Correct and incorrect non-selections could be distinguished by decision time, number of fixations and duration of fixations on the target or most-attended face and comparisons. Implications of visual behaviour for judgment strategy (relative vs. absolute) are discussed