School of Computing
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Macquarie University NSW 2109
Phone: +61 451 508 149
Email: ben_zi.zhao@mq.edu.au
Dr. Benjamin Zi Hao Zhao
Participant Information and Consent Form
Name of Project: Visualising Numeric Data as Faces for Human decision making
You are invited to take part in a study of showing number data as images to make decision-making for humans easier. The purpose of the study is to test if we can convert number data into realistic human faces to simplify human decision-making. Converting number data into faces is useful when we need to include a human-in-the-loop for decisions. For example, decisions are currently being made by a machine, but we want a human to have the last say in the decision. A human may find it hard to understand the number data, so we test the face scenario.
The study is being conducted by Dr. Benjamin Zi Hao Zhao, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Computing, Macquarie University,
(+61) 451 508 149, ben_zi.zhao@mq.edu.au
If you decide to participate, you will need access to a computer with a web browser and an internet connection. A web form will present questions where you will be asked to make a subjective decision on whether four faces presented to you are the same or not. You will select ‘Yes’ if they faces are the same, the participant will select ‘No’ if the faces are not the same. More faces will be shown to you after each decision. We expect the study to take 10 minutes, for which you will be compensated for your efforts. We will only be recording your consent and responses to the questions.
There are unlikely to be any risks or discomfort involved with the questions, however if you feel discomfort, please reach out to the study coordinator: Dr. Benjamin Zi Hao Zhao. Further, external support services are available with
- BeyondBlue (https://www.beyondblue.org.au/)
- Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/ )
- NSW Mental Health Life (1800 011 511)
Any information or personal details gathered in the course of the study are confidential, except as required by law. No individual will be identified in any publication of the results. Only the people within the project will have access to the data until the completion of analysis. A summary of the results of the data can be made available to you on request by asking Dr. Benjamin Zi Hao Zhao (ben_zi.zhao@mq.edu.au). Findings from this study will be peer-review and published. The data will not be made available for use in future Human Research Ethics Committee-approved projects.
Participation in this study is entirely voluntary: you are not obliged to participate and if you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time without having to give a reason and without consequence, simply close the window to the questionnaire.
Data Visualization as Faces
In this research project we test the possibility of representing numerical data as Images for human interpretation, specifically with synthetic human faces. There are circumstances where it is desirable to include a human-in-the-loop in decision making processes, rather than allowing a machine to have complete control of the final decision. However, numeric data captured for machines to process are likely confusing for humnas to quickly understand, hence this study to evaluate the possibilitty of prepresenting numeric data as synthetic human faces.
During this experiment you will be shown sets of human faces, of which one will have a red border. It is your task to determine if this highlighted image is sufficiently different to 3 reference faces.
In the event there are inconsistencies between the lower right hand image and any of the 3 reference faces, please also indicate "No"
Registration
We have assigned you a unique ID.
I, have read (or, where appropriate, have had read to me) and understand the information above, and any questions I have asked have been answered to my satisfaction. I agree to participate in this research, knowing that I can withdraw from further participation in the research at any time without consequence. I have been given a copy of this form to keep.
The ethical aspects of this study have been approved by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any complaints or reservations about any ethical aspect of your participation in this research, you may contact the Committee through the Director, Research Ethics & Integrity (telephone (02) 9850 7854; email ethics@mq.edu.au). Any complaint you make will be treated in confidence and investigated, and you will be informed of the outcome.
