The problem of ecological validity in eye-tracking research.

Description

Discussions about ecological validity have been prominent within the history of psychological science and beyond, and the eye-tracking literature is no exception. With the advent of wearable eye-tracking technology and virtual reality headsets with built-in eye-tracking devices, this topic is becoming more important, as technological developments enable researchers to conduct eye-tracking studies in settings beyond conventional lab-based environments. I will discuss some conceptual and methodological problems of the term ecological validity, and argue why, in my view, discussions about ecological validity can hamper scientific progress. Using representative scenarios from several basic and applied eye-tracking fields, I will illustrate how to more constructively deal with trade-offs and methodological considerations that researchers may face when designing and conducting eye-tracking research.

Period	11 Apr 2025
Held at	Lund University, Sweden