The research group Humlab

Humlab is an open research group to promote experimental research in the humanities. We have worked with priming experiments using reaction time measures since 2004. Currently we are developing the lab using Emotive EPOC+ for ERP (Event Related Potentials), and EyeTribe EyeTrackers. The lab has a sound proof room that can also serve as a recording studio, with digitizing equipment.

Bilde av hodet til en person der issen er fjernet og en forsker studerer innholdet i hjernen. — Photo: Offentlig domene

Affiliation

Projects

The Bwrite project

HumLab contributes to the Bwrite project “Academic Writing in the Baltic States: Rhetorical Structures through Culture(s) and Languages”. This project is funded by the Baltic States Research Programme and Iceland Liechtenstein Norway grants. It aims to map rhetorical conventions of academic writing in Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian, focusing on the humanities and social sciences. This research is a collaboration between researchers from the universities of Tartu (Estonia), Vilnius (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia), Birmingham (England) and Bergen (Norway).

In particular, our lab's research assistant, Margaux Susman, works towards the automation of feature detection and extraction in distinct types of academic papers employing diverse machine learning methods and software such as Gavagai Explorer.

Reaction time research

Reaction time experiments are a reliable way to test how people processes information as it is presented. In the HumLab, we use this method to test hypotheses from various areas of study. These experiments require the participant to watch a computer screen and follow directions by pressing buttons on a response pad. Participant requirements vary per experiment.