Research Symposium

BIO

I am Michael Moreo and I am studying Environmental Science here at Florida State. My field is jam-packed with research opportunities, and there was no better way to develop the framework of my career than to work on a project through UROP. What draws me to this type of research is the ability to look at certain concepts and ideas like a blueprint, to develop a hypothesis for it, and to watch our "machine" run through trials. I plan to take what I've learned through UROP and apply for an IDEA Grant before graduation, as well as further my education through grad school.

Investigating the Influence of Comprehension Questions on Readers’ Gaze in Graphic Narratives

Abstract

With the increasing prevalence of multimedia content in digital environments, understanding how individuals allocate visual attention to various elements becomes crucial for content creators and designers. This study employs eye-tracking technology to investigate visual attention patterns in response to multimedia stimuli, aiming to unravel the factors influencing gaze behavior. Participants were exposed to a diverse set of multimedia content, including comics in particular, while their eye movements were to be tracked using state-of-the-art eye-tracking equipment. The study incorporates a diverse participant pool to ensure a broad representation of demographic factors. Data analysis involved the examination of fixation durations, saccade patterns, and the identification of regions of interest within the stimuli. We conducted the actual study in February, and expect to find results that align with previous works with eye tracking in comic book reading. Typically, the average reader, especially one who has never picked up a comic book, will jump from the book at the top left of the page to what seems to be the biggest box, or the box with the most eye-popping action, even if it is not the next in chronological order. For our study, since our pool of participants will be random and assorted from various backgrounds, we expect most readers to follow the typical trend seen within paralleled studies. This eye-tracking study provides valuable insights into the ways individuals navigate and engage with multimedia content. Understanding these visual attention patterns can inform educators about optimizing their materials to capture and retain audience attention.

Keywords: eye-tracking, educators, comic books, heat maps