Efsun Annac, Ph.D.

Abstract Repeated display configurations improve visual search. Recently, the question has arisen whether this contextual cueing effect (Chun & Jiang,  1998 ) is itself mediated by attention, both in terms of selectivity and processing resources deployed. While it is accepted that selective attention modulates contextual cueing (Jiang & Leung, 2005 ), there is an ongoing debate whether the cueing effect is affected by a secondary working memory (WM) task, specifically at which stage WM influences the cueing effect: the acquisition of configural associations (e.g., Travis, Mattingley, & Dux,  2013 ) versus the expression of learned associations (e.g., Manginelli, Langer, Klose, & Pollmann,  2013 ). The present study re-investigated this issue. Observers performed a visual search in combination with a spatial WM task. The latter was applied on either early or late search trials—so as to examine whether WM load hampers the acquisition of or retrieval from contextual memo

Abstract: This study examined the relations between explicit and implicit measures of visual-spatial memory (i.e., separate vs. unique memory system hypotheses; cf., e.g., Henke, 2010); whether spatial long-term memory is, as it has been shown at least for spatial short-term memory (i.e., visual imagery, Vandenberg & Kuse, 1978) modulated by gender; and how the formation of spatial long-term memory is influenced by perceptual grouping (cf. Geyer, Shi, & Müller, 2010). To examine this, 20 observers (10 female) participated in both a spatial working memory task (sWMT - the original version of mental rotation task developed by Shepard & Metzler (1971) and visual search task (contextual cueing task) , with the latter having shown repeatedly for being aided by spatial long-term memory (sLTM; cf. Chun & Jiang,1998). Results showed that (1) in ‘default’ mode, contextual cueing is modulated by color, rather than, space-based grouping.  (2) Contextual cueing is modulated by WM

Reference : Annac, E. , & Bahcekapili, H.G.(2012). Understanding and Acceptance of Evolutionary Theory Among Turkish University Students, Dogus University Journal , 13 ( 1 ) ,1-11.  Abstract: Acceptance level of evolutionary theory and factors predicting it were examined among Psychology majors from Doğuş University and Bahçeşehir University (N=99). About half of the students accepted evolutionary theory, which is a higher percentage than in previous reports. Positive attitudes towards science and parents’ education were positively correlated with acceptance whereas religiosity was negatively correlated. Understanding of evolutionary theory was surprisingly low. Understanding the theory and understanding the nature of science were unrelated to acceptance. Recommendations are made to improve the teaching of evolutionary theory. Key words:  Accepting Evolution; Understanding Evolution; Science Education; Turkish Undergraduates; Evrim Teorisini Kabul Etme; Evrim Teorisini Anlama