A computer-generated face database with ratings on realism, masculinity, race, and stereotypy

• Published in: Behavior research methods Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 224 - 228
• Main Authors: Matheson, Heath E., McMullen, Patricia A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.03.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; African Americans; Asian People; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Black or African American; Black People; Cognitive Psychology; Computers; Databases, Factual; Ethnicity; Europe; Experiments; Face; Female; Humans; Likert scale; Male; Masculinity; Memory; Orientation; Photic Stimulation; Psychology; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Race; Racial Groups; Recognition, Psychology - physiology; Sex Characteristics; Validity; White People; Young Adult; Face perception; Other-race effect; Face database
• ISSN: 1554-3528; 1554-351X; 1554-3528
• DOI: 10.3758/s13428-010-0029-9

Ratings of realism, masculinity, race, and racial stereotypy were collected on a set of computer-generated faces representing European, South East Asian, and African American ethnicities. To determine if these faces are processed in the same way as photographs of real faces, we demonstrated with these faces superior memory performance for upright faces over inverted faces (the face inversion effect). Further, in observers of European decent, we found both superior memory for European faces and a larger inversion effect for European than African American faces. Based on these results, we believe that this set of faces may be of use in perceptual investigations in which race is a critical manipulation.