Elizabeth Thorpe Davis

	Elizabeth Thorpe Davis	(404) 894-5611
	Engineering
	Ph.D. (1979) Experimental Psychology Columbia University

Associate Professor of Psychology

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          My research has both a basic and an applied flavor.  The basic research extends our understanding of how humans process perceptual information about whether something is there, what it is, and where it is.  Specifically, I study the interface between perception and attention by comparing predictions derived from competing models to the actual behavioral data.  This interface between perception and attention is a key factor in visual perception, cognitive neuroscience, and applied research on display design and HCI program visualizations. 
          The applied research uses the knowledge gained from basic research to predict, control, and enhance human perception and performance in human computer interaction (HCI) settings -- providing yet another test-bed for the models.   This research is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Please go to our lab website for more information about our research and for reprint requests:  http://www.davispsychweb.net/vpages/visionlab.htm
Affiliations
American Psychological Association
American Psychological Society
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

• HFES Perception and Performance Program Chair 2002-2003
• HFES Perception and Performance Technical Chair-Elect 2004-2005
• HFES Perception and Performance Technical Chair 2006-2007

Affiliate Member of the Graphics, Visualization, and Usability Center.
New York Academy of Science
Pi Mu Epsilon (mathematics honor society)
Psychonomic Society
Sigma Xi
Visual Sciences Society
Selected Publications

• Davis, E.T., Hailston, K., Kraemer, E., Hamilton-Taylor, A., Rhodes, P., Papadimitrious, C., & Garcia, B.A. (2006).  Perceptual characteristics of computerized program visualizations can differentially affect detection and localization performance.  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics 50th Annual Meeting.
• Davis, E.T., Shikano, T., Main, K., Hailston, K., Michel, R.K., & Sathian, K. (2006).  Mirror-image symmetry and search asymmetry:  A comparison of their effects on visual search and a possible unifying explanation.  Vision Research, 46, 1263-1281.
• Davis, E.T. (2006).  Invited Book Review:  Neurobiology of Attention.  Physiology & Behavior, 87, 447-448.
• Davis, E.T. & Palmer, J. (2004).  Visual search & attention:  an overview. Spatial Vision, 17, 249-255.
• Davis, E.T., Shikano, T., Peterson, S.A., & Michel, R.K. (2003). Divided attention and visual search for simple versus complex features. Vision Research, 43, 2213-2232.

Frequently Taught Courses
Psy 1101 General Psychology
Psy 7102 Engineering Psychology II - Displays & Environmental Stressors
Graduate Seminar: Visual Perception and Attention

Contact Information

Dr. Elizabeth Thorpe Davis School of Psychology Georgia Institute of Technology 654 Cherry Street Atlanta, GA 30332-0170

Telephone: (404) 894-5611 Fax: (404) 894-8905 E-mail: Office Location: 132 J.S. Coon Bldg.