Name: ______________________________ Hour: ___________
Motivation & Emotion Article Analysis Question (AAQ) 2025
KEY
(A) Identify the research method used in the study.
● Answer: The research method used in this study was a laboratory experiment. The
researchers controlled variables, such as the stimuli participants were exposed to
(images from the International Affective Picture System) and instructed
participants to display either genuine or falsified emotions.
(B) State the operational definition of the variables.
● Answer: The operational definitions of the variables are:
○ Independent Variable: The type of emotional response (genuine, simulated,
masked, or neutralized) participants were instructed to display in response
to stimuli.
○ Dependent Variable: The accuracy of observers in detecting the
authenticity of participants' facial expressions, measured by their ability to
identify deceptive expressions. Additionally, the percentage of inconsistent
emotional expressions across different facial regions was recorded.
(C) Describe what the difference in means indicates.
● Answer: The difference in means indicates the varying difficulty participants
experienced in falsifying different emotions, particularly negative emotions like
sadness and disgust, compared to positive emotions like happiness. The data
showed higher percentages of inconsistent expressions for negative emotions,
suggesting that masking these emotions is more challenging, which aligns with
the study's hypothesis.
(D) Identify at least one ethical guideline applied by the researchers.
● Answer: An ethical guideline likely applied in this study is informed consent.
Since undergraduate students participated for course credit, they would have
been informed of the study's nature, their role, and the expectations, allowing
them to make an informed choice about participating. Additionally, confidentiality
would have been maintained, as personal identities were not tied to the emotional
expression data reported.
(E) Explain the extent to which the research findings may or may not be generalizable
using specific and relevant evidence from the study.
Name: ______________________________ Hour: ___________
● Answer: The findings may have limited generalizability because the participant
sample was composed primarily of undergraduate students from a single
university, which may not represent the broader population in terms of age,
cultural background, and experience with emotional expression. Furthermore, the
controlled laboratory setting may not fully replicate natural emotional responses
in real-world scenarios. However, the study's use of universal facial coding lends
some validity, as universal emotions are theorized to be cross-culturally
recognizable.
(F) Explain how at least one of the research findings supports or refutes the researchers’
hypothesis.
● Answer: One research finding that supports the researchers' hypothesis is the
high percentage of inconsistent expressions, particularly for negative emotions
like sadness and disgust. This result aligns with the hypothesis that genuine
emotions are difficult to suppress, as emotional "leakage" occurred in all
participants. Additionally, the study found that microexpressions were not as
reliable as previously thought, suggesting that while some emotions are difficult
to conceal, microexpressions alone may not provide consistent indicators of
deception.
Name: ______________________________ Hour: ___________
Motivation & Emotion Article Analysis Question (AAQ) 2025
Student Response Template
(A) Identify the research method used in the study.
(B) State the operational definition of variables.
(C) Describe the meaning of the statistical data.
(D) Identify at least one ethical guideline applied by the researchers.
Name: ______________________________ Hour: ___________
(E) Explain the extent to which the research findings may or may not be generalizable
using specific and relevant evidence from the study.
Total Unit 4 AAQ Score:
_______________/ 7 points from College Rubric
__________/15 From AGHS Rubric
Name: ______________________________ Hour: ___________
AAQ Source:
Reading Between the Lies: Identifying Concealed and Falsified Emotions in Universal
Facial Expressions
Introduction
The study by Stephen Porter and Leanne ten Brinke investigates how well people can conceal
or falsify emotions through facial expressions, with a particular focus on microexpressions. This
research responds to theories by Ekman and others, who argue that genuine emotions may
involuntarily leak through microexpressions, even when a person tries to hide them. The study
seeks to explore whether certain emotions are harder to mask than others and how successful
observers are at detecting these concealed expressions.
Participants
The research included 41 undergraduate students (35 females and 6 males, average age 21.51
years) from Dalhousie University, who participated for course credit. Additionally, six
independent observers judged the facial expressions in real time to assess their accuracy in
detecting deception.
Methods
Participants were shown a sequence of images from the International Affective Picture System,
which included neutral, positive, and negative stimuli. They were instructed to react to these
images with either genuine or falsified emotions (simulated, masked, or neutralized
expressions). The participants' facial expressions were recorded and analyzed on a frame-by-
frame basis using a coding system for universal emotions, while observers assessed the
authenticity of each expression.
Results
The study found that masked emotions, especially negative emotions like disgust and sadness,
were more challenging for participants to convincingly falsify. Happy expressions were easier to
simulate convincingly, as people are generally accustomed to displaying happiness socially.
Inconsistent emotional expressions (or "leakages") appeared in 100% of participants, with these
leakages lasting longer than traditional microexpression durations (typically more than one
second, rather than Ekman's suggested 1/25 to 1/5 of a second). Observers were only slightly
better than chance at detecting deception, with their accuracy at approximately 60%. The table
below presents the percentage of inconsistent emotional expressions across different facial
regions.
Expression Category Upper Face (%) Lower Face (%)
Happiness 7.3 8.13
Name: ______________________________ Hour: ___________
Sadness 30.9 38.2
Fear 49.6 47.2
Disgust 32.5 42.3
Discussion
The results suggest that facial expressions, especially those of negative emotions, are difficult
to conceal fully. Emotional "leakage" and increased blink rates in masked expressions support
the inhibition hypothesis, which posits that genuine emotions are difficult to suppress entirely.
However, microexpressions were rare and only partially manifested, challenging the idea that
they are a reliable indicator of deception. The study concludes that facial expression analysis for
deception detection requires further refinement before it can be applied in practical settings,
such as airport security.
Citation
Porter, S., & ten Brinke, L. (2008). Reading Between the Lies: Identifying Concealed and
Falsified Emotions in Universal Facial Expressions. Psychological Science, 19(5), 508-514.4o
Name: ______________________________ Hour: ___________
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