Research Events

12:00PM to 5:00PM
Centre of Excellence, 2nd Floor - Balcony Area

Welcome Remarks: Marlon Valencia

Visitors of the poster gallery will have the opportunity to engage with the presenters of the poster gallery from 12:00PM to 2:00PM. 

• Aicha Fatima Barry (ENSL 3210), Trees Shape Nature
  Trees in nature provide a sense of movement, admiration, play, and make space for us to live. They are composed of different species and the structure of trees in connection to buildings and infrastructure displays diverse functional and ecological qualities. The perception of trees incorporating architecture brings an understanding of space and an atmospheric experience. Moreover, trees have symbolic value, and it is important to understand what feeling we perceive from trees (De Wit & van der Velde, 2024). This photo essay will discuss how we perceive trees and their relationship to the background in images, the way trees are grouped in nature (configuration), and their transparency (foliage, color, and brightness).

• Madeline Fusay (ENSL 3210), Hearing Pictures: Sound and Music in Synesthetic Photography
  AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH. How come the little reading voice in your head just screamed that? How come this is what one is likely to hear when looking at Figure 1? It seems that sound is not restricted to auditory stimuli only, and can also come via sight, and especially synesthetic photography. When listening to music, it is easy for your mind to summon a picture of the story being told by the lyrics, or to imagine the moon in the night sky while listening to the melancholic notes of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. But what about the inverse? Can a picture evoke a sound, make you hear music, as clearly as music can summon a mental picture? Artists have often used photography to try and capture their music – which is by definition fleeting, ephemeral and invisible – for instance with their album covers which supposedly illustrate the spirit or the message of their songs so that they can last, spread and impact more people. The purpose of this essay is to invite music-lovers to look for auditory stimuli everywhere, beyond what can be heard - into what can be seen. The ‘synesthetic power’ of this form of artistic expression can be seen in Figure 1, which features a man screaming, as his open mouth and facial expression clearly convey. The close up shot makes it look as if his entire body, as if the entire picture was devoted to this scream, to this sound that is being produced. The angle of the photo also allows us to see the person’s ear and eyes, wide open. Actually, listening and viewing can play a far more important role than passively ‘receiving’. Even though the viewer’s ear is not receiving a real stimulus when looking at the picture, their mind can still perceive the scream thanks to memory and imagination – for everyone has already heard someone screaming and making a similar facial expression: it can recall either a fearful child, an angry boss or a joyful sportsman… It already hints at the subjective and interpretative dimension of photography. With all these elements, I intend to show how the silence inherent to a photograph can produce or evoke sound and music in the viewer’s mind. 

• Nassour Hamid Allatchi Nassour (ENSL 3210), Trees in Autumn
  This photo essay will explore how the vibrant colors of autumn evoke memory and associations, reminding us of seasonal transitions and moments in life. Trees in autumn are very pretty to see. Their leaves change color to red, yellow, and orange, making places look amazing. This time of year shows how nature changes and makes us think. In this text, I will talk about why these changes are special. The photos show how beautiful autumn is and how the colors and shapes make nice pictures and memories. In the end, we will see how these autumn scenes are more than just pretty. They remind us of changes and memories, showing how nature can surprise and inspire us. 

• Rachel Kinangi (ENSL 3210), Congolese Food
  Congolese food is rich in flavors and shows the rich farming, history, and mix of cultures in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This food comes from local traditions and is influenced by many  ethnic groups, bringing together different tastes, colors, and textures that are simple yet flavorful. For instance, common ingredients are cassava, plantains, smoked fish, pondu, and ndakala 
  cooked in ways that keep their natural taste. This photo essay is for people who want to learn about other cultures and try African food. In additional, the goal is to show the variety of Congolese dishes and their meaning. Congolese food is a mix of local ingredients and cooking styles, making a special experience that connects with history and community. Ultimately, this photo essay explores how Congolese dishes, through their colors, textures, and arrangements, reflect the cultural heritage and culinary diversity of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Akoua (Raphaelle) Kouadio (ENSL 3210), Why Should You Apply to Glendon? 
  Glendon has not always been as modern and as welcoming as we see today. Initially, it did not belong to York University; it was once part of the University of Toronto, used for experimental purposes related to nature due to its large and beautiful green spaces. Glendon first opened its doors as a campus of York University in 1959 and was officially inaugurated in 1966. Following the vision of its founding principal, Escott Reid Wood, who emphasized the importance of bilingualism, Glendon launched the first bilingual and trilingual international Bachelor of Arts degrees in Canada in 2007 (Glendon, n.d.). Since then, Glendon College has become known for its strong academic programs, particularly in international studies, languages, and bilingualism, attracting students seeking high-quality education in a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment. Another attractive aspect of this campus is its inclusive atmosphere, where students from various backgrounds can engage with one another, fostering a sense of belonging and community that enhances the overall student experience. Additionally, for those seeking a quiet, park-like setting in which to study, Glendon offers a picturesque campus with green spaces and natural beauty, providing an inspiring environment for students to socialize and relax. To sum up, this photo essay will provide details on Glendon's reputation, its friendly atmosphere, and its beautiful natural surroundings, all of which may help you decide whether to make it your top choice for undergraduate studies in the Greater Toronto Area. 

• Longyu Cao (PSYCH 3525), Food: The Ultimate Cause For Assembly
  Without a doubt, food takes up a large portion of everyone’s life. Some people consider food a basic necessity for survival, but others like me give food deeper meanings. Apart from the meals that people have alone, there are several different reasons why people choose to dine together. In that case, can we define food as a tool to bring people together? Not only does food supply rich nutrition, but it also creates opportunities for companionship—physically, culturally, and spiritually. This photo essay highlights the significance of food and presents a contrasting perspective to those who dismiss it. What more could you ask for than a satisfying meal, good company, and an engaging passion to pursue? While friends and passions may not always be present, a good meal is always within reach. Ultimately, food is always the reason for assembly. 

• Monica Neagu (PSYCH 3525), Distractions and Learning: Investigating the Role of Study Material Type
  This study explores how different types of study materials (verbal vs. non-verbal) interact with different types of distractions (verbal vs. non-verbal) to influence learning efficiency. Based on Allan Paivio’s Dual Coding Theory, which suggests that verbal and non-verbal information are processed through distinct cognitive pathways, the study hypothesizes that learning efficiency will be higher when study materials and distractions are incongruent (e.g., verbal study material with a non-verbal distractor or vice versa) compared to when they are congruent. Our study follows a 2x2 between-subjects factorial design with randomly assigning participants to one of four conditions. Participants will engage with study materials either in written (verbal) or pictorial (non-verbal) form while being exposed to verbal (music with lyrics) or non-verbal (instrumental music) distractions. Learning efficiency will be assessed through a memory test, with accuracy measured as the number of correctly recalled items. The research will be conducted online, targeting approximately 160 participants. Data analysis involves a 2x2 factorial ANOVA to examine interaction effects, followed by t-tests for specific comparisons. Findings from this study could enhance understanding of optimal study environments, particularly for students struggling with distractions. 

• Helya Bahrami (PSYCH 3525), Effects of Fluency Factors on Consumer Attitudes
  The overall purpose of our project is to focus on the attitudes and behaviours of consumers when they are purchasing products. The chosen product we chose for our study is coffee, as our target demographic, people over the age of 18, typically show interest in purchasing it. The study design of our study will be a 2x2 between-subjects design with 2 independent variables each with two levels, verbal fluency (high vs. low) and visual fluency (high vs. low), while the dependent is consumer attitudes which is measured through participants ratings of products likability, appeal and likelihood of purchase.
  Participants (a mixture of students from York University and friends and family of the researchers) will be randomly assigned to one of four groups; Product with high visual (easy to read font)  and high verbal fluency (easy to pronounce word) (1), Product with high visual (easy to read font) and low verbal (hard to pronounce word) (2), Product with low visual (difficult to read font) and high verbal (easy to read font) (3), Product with low visual (hard to read font) and low verbal (hard to pronounce name) (4). Within each of these conditions, participants will be asked to observe and assess the product, where based on what they think of it, they will then be asked a series of questions. These questions will be used to determine whether high visual and verbal fluency conditions will result in increased likelihood of purchasing the product, (i.e., that simple font and easy to pronounce logo will increase this likelihood), and measure their overall consumer attitude and behaviour towards it.  

• Christina Chang, Julie Chan (PSYCH 3525), "Grabbing a coffee”: The role of visual and verbal processing fluency on purchase intentions
  In today’s increasingly technology-focused society, online shopping has become one of the most convenient and popular forms of retail consumerism. Previous research has shown that the fluency of a given stimulus affects one’s perception and likeability of it (Lee & Labroo, 2004). However, there is little research which addresses how the visual and verbal fluency of a product affects purchase intention. Oppenheimer (2006) found that using unnecessarily complex vocabulary negatively impacts participants' belief on the author’s level of intelligence, regardless of the quality of content remaining the same. This study will conceptually replicate Oppenheimer’s (2006) study to explore if varying visual and verbal fluency affects purchase intention for a product. Over Qualtrics, participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions; clear image and concise description, clear image and complex description, grainy image and concise description, and grainy image and complex description. Then, participants will be asked nine questions about purchase intention for the product. We will analyze the data using an ANOVA omnibus test and expect to find that participants will be most likely to purchase the product that is presented with high visual and verbal fluency (independent of each other), thus a clear image and concise description. As well, both visual and verbal fluency will have an effect on purchase intention.  Implications include building effective, creative and targeted marketing strategies based on the ideal consumer audience.   

• Brianna Anderson (BIOL 4000), Glucocorticoid Levels in Response to Zoo Visitors in Ring-Tailed Lemurs and Olive Baboons​
  This research project examines the effect of visitors on the well-being of zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) and olive baboons (Papio anubis) from the Toronto Zoo. Most pre-COVID-19 publications studied the impact of visitors on zoo animals by comparing peak and low visitation periods. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused worldwide zoo closures creating an opportunity to investigate the relationship between animal welfare and human visitors based on the presence and absence of human visitors. To explore the relationship between zoo visitors and animals, we will analyze how visitor numbers affect glucocorticoid levels, a group of hormones that is a common biomarker for animal welfare. The fecal glucocorticoid levels were measured during the zoo closure and the two subsequent reopening stages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will test the hypothesis that human visitors induce a stress response in zoo-housed lemurs and baboons. The results of this project are still ongoing, but it will expand our understanding of the visitor-animal relationship to help zoos minimize harm to their residents.

• Ghalia El Hayawan (PSYCH 4000), Perceptual Curiosity and Memory
  This study is part of a larger project that aims to study the relationship between perceptual curiosity and memory amongst younger and older adults. Thirty-five young adults completed a perceptual curiosity paradigm during which they viewed blurry images of world objects one at a time. For each image participants were asked to rate how curious and how confident they were about the identity of the item behind the blur. They were asked to guess the item behind the blur,and were then shown the clear version of the blurry image. After seeing the clear version of the image participants were asked how satisfied they were after clearly the subject of the image. Finally, following a short delay participants completed a free recall task, listing as many images as they can remember from the first phase of the study. Results showed that recalled images had higher confidence and satisfaction ratings, with confidence and satisfaction being major predictors of recall memory. Curiosity was not found to be a major predictor of recall memory, most likely due to the simplicity of the stimuli used in this study. Research on this topic is important, particularly among older adults given the potential of curiosity to lower age-related cognitive decline (Sakaki et al., 2018). Future research should explore the relationship between perceptual curiosity and memory among younger and older adults, using complex but hard to identify  stimuli that induce curiosity. 

• Unnati Ramdhony (PSYCH 3525), The Complex Nature of Distractions: Effects of Auditory and Visual Distractions on Memory Recall Across Different Study Material Formats
  We are interested in looking at how the different distractions and different types of study materials impact memory. In our study, we are looking to expose the participants to one of the condition; a video with subtitles but without audio with a visual distractor and another one with auditory distractor. The other two conditions is an audio with visual distractor and the other one with auditory distractor. Moreover, the literature demonstrates that the impact of distractions on memory recall depends on their format. Our study will test whether distractions that match the study material cause greater interference. We predict that memory recall will be significantly higher when the distraction format does not match the study material format, compared to when the distraction format matches the study material format. This research is important for work and educational settings because if certain types of distractions prove beneficial, they could be strategically used to enhance focus in some scenarios.

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Pre-recorded Presentations

• Meena Mohammadi, Nabeela Bahram, Naima Edwards-Lavoie and Pradhi Kalra (PSYCH 3525), Ingredient Lists and Consumers; A Budding Relationship
  With our study, we aim to get a more in-depth understanding of the relationship between verbal and visual fluency, how they affect consumer attitudes towards a product’s quality, and how the two types of fluencies interact. We will create conditions where they’re manipulated and measure how their interactions affect consumer perceptions of quality. Based on previous research, we predict that the higher the visual fluency, the more positively the product's quality will be perceived. Similarly, we believe the higher the verbal fluency, the more positively the product’s quality will be perceived. We are unsure whether an interaction between verbal and visual fluency will occur. We are choosing to use an ingredient label as our stimuli. Visual fluency will be operationally measured as how easy the ingredient label is to see. Verbal fluency will be measured as how easy the items are to pronounce and understand linguistically.

• Manon Palaric (PSYC 4000), The impact of generative AI use policies in academia and the role of technostress on student attitudes
  This study examines how university policies on the use of generative artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, in undergraduate assignments influence students' attitudes. Dependent variables include behavioral, cognitive and affective dimensions of attitudes, measured via 5 of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) subscales: intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, task value and anxiety. Participants were randomly divided into three groups corresponding to the three levels of an independent variable: (1) mandatory use of ChatGPT, (2) limited use to certain specific tasks, and (3) total prohibition. Through these three conditions, we aim to identify which one students feel the least stressed with. The study integrates the Technostress Creators Inventory as a second independent variable (at two levels: high-low) to assess technological stress and its link with AI use policies. The aim is to understand which policies professors should integrate into their courses to reduce an additional source of stress for students.