Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

The literature regarding biological motion suggests that people may accurately identify and recognize the gender of others using movement cues in the absence of typical identifiers. This study compared identification and gender judgments of traditional point-light stimuli to skeleton stimuli. Controlling for previous experience and execution of actions, the frequency and familiarity of movements was also considered. Watching action clips, participants learned to identify 4 male and 4 female actors. Participants then identified the corresponding point-light or skeleton displays. Although results indicate higher than chance performance, no difference was observed between stimuli conditions. Analyses did show better gender recognition for common as well as previously viewed actions. This suggests that visual experience influences extraction and application of biological motion. Thus insufficient practice in relying on movement cues for identification could explain the significant yet poor performance in biological motion point-light research.

Extent

viii, 36 p. : ill. (some col.)

Comments

by Sara Manuel.|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012.|Includes bibliography.|Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.|Mode of access: World Wide Web.|System requirements: Adobe Reader.|by Sara Manuel.

Identifier

FADT3355623

Format

pdf

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