The Art of De-Biasing

Simlab at Koç University is joining project leader NTCenter (BG), coordinator Bash Art Creative (UK-Scotland), Institute for Contemporary Education (RS), Arteveldehogeschool (BE), Edulin (NL), Delft Digital Learning (PT) and Drawing to Health (NL) in a new project called dBias.
The project aims to contribute to a growing field of applied research on processes that can be used to reduce cognitive biases. Specifically, the project will entail designing video clips for a selection of cognitive biases pertaining to teaching/learning environments, with a particular focus on teacher-learner communication. The project will also aim to develop an adaptive learning platform to deliver targeted teaching interventions.
The Art of De-biasing project is funded by the Erasmus+ "KA2 - Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices"
If interested in the project, please visit the website of the project.
The project aims to contribute to a growing field of applied research on processes that can be used to reduce cognitive biases. Specifically, the project will entail designing video clips for a selection of cognitive biases pertaining to teaching/learning environments, with a particular focus on teacher-learner communication. The project will also aim to develop an adaptive learning platform to deliver targeted teaching interventions.
The Art of De-biasing project is funded by the Erasmus+ "KA2 - Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices"
If interested in the project, please visit the website of the project.
Media Use & Covid-19 in Turkey
In a project funded by the TUBITAK ARDEB 1001- Scientific and Technological Research Projects Funding Program (COVID-19 and Society: Social, Human and Economic Effects of the Outbreak, Problems and Solutions), we investigate information disseminated on mass media and social media as factors that may influence COVID-19 risk perceptions and the extent to which individuals adopt health-protective behaviors or behaviors that may put them at risk concerning COVID-19.
The project has three main components: 1) Application of machine learning techniques for analysis of content about COVID-19 on social media (Twitter), 2) A content analysis of news about COVID-19 published by national newspapers, and 3) An online survey, along with modules containing survey-experiments.
The data will is being collected at five waves, separated by one-two weeks. The ensuing data will allow the project not only to track the evolution of the agenda related to COVID-19 but also, by integrating the content data with survey data, make inferences about how media content may be related to individuals’ risk and control perceptions and health-protective behavior against COVID-19.
The project brings together researchers from Koç University (PI), Duke University, and the National University of Singapore.
The project has started in July 22nd, 2020 and ends in December 31, 2020.
Click here for more information about the project
The project has three main components: 1) Application of machine learning techniques for analysis of content about COVID-19 on social media (Twitter), 2) A content analysis of news about COVID-19 published by national newspapers, and 3) An online survey, along with modules containing survey-experiments.
The data will is being collected at five waves, separated by one-two weeks. The ensuing data will allow the project not only to track the evolution of the agenda related to COVID-19 but also, by integrating the content data with survey data, make inferences about how media content may be related to individuals’ risk and control perceptions and health-protective behavior against COVID-19.
The project brings together researchers from Koç University (PI), Duke University, and the National University of Singapore.
The project has started in July 22nd, 2020 and ends in December 31, 2020.
Click here for more information about the project
Beyond the Forward: The Social Shaping of (Mis)information through WhatsApp
Simlab is now taking part in a comparative study (USA, Turkey and Singapore) that examines how individual and group level characteristics support and suppress the questioning news content, forwarding questionable content, referring to fact-checking sources, and correcting others against misinformation in their groups.
The study is funded by WhatsApp Misinformation and Social Science Research Awards
The project team:
Scott Campbell, Ph.D., University of Michigan (Principal Investigator); Ozan Kuru, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (Principal Investigator); Joseph Bayer, Ph.D., Ohio State University; Lemi Baruh, Ph.D., Koc University; Richard Ling, Ph.D., Nanyang Technological University
The study is funded by WhatsApp Misinformation and Social Science Research Awards
The project team:
Scott Campbell, Ph.D., University of Michigan (Principal Investigator); Ozan Kuru, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (Principal Investigator); Joseph Bayer, Ph.D., Ohio State University; Lemi Baruh, Ph.D., Koc University; Richard Ling, Ph.D., Nanyang Technological University
Role of Communication Modalities in Person Perception
Simlab is currently engaged in two related projects in this domain.
Project 1. First Impressions: A Comparative Study of Face-to-Face and SNSs
In the first project, we investigate the influence of perceived vs actual personality similarity on interpersonal attraction after a brief encounter in face-to-face or via Facebook.
This project entailed three phases conducted with Koç University freshmen (n = 801):
Project 1. First Impressions: A Comparative Study of Face-to-Face and SNSs
In the first project, we investigate the influence of perceived vs actual personality similarity on interpersonal attraction after a brief encounter in face-to-face or via Facebook.
This project entailed three phases conducted with Koç University freshmen (n = 801):
Employing Multilevel polynomial regressions with Response Surface Analysis we found that:
A presentation summarizing our findings with respect to zero-acquaintanceship contexts in face-to-face vs. Facebook modalities
- Communication modalities (i.e., face-to-face and SNS) differed from each other in terms of personality traits that predict interpersonal attraction
- Perceived similarity yielded stronger associations with interpersonal attraction.
- Perceivers were more attracted to targets who were “better versions” of themselves, yet too much discrepancy impeded attraction, more so when face-to-face.
- Perceived similarity is more likely to predict interpersonal attraction in face-to-face modality than on SNSs.
A presentation summarizing our findings with respect to zero-acquaintanceship contexts in face-to-face vs. Facebook modalities
If you are interested, data and R scripts of Polynomial Regression with RSA available at Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/6nujq/
Also, please feel free to contact us from [email protected] if you are interested in collaborating with Simlab in further analysis of this data.
Related Publications:
- Cemalcilar, Z., Baruh, L., Kezer, M., Kamiloglu, R. G., & Nigdeli, B. (2018). Role of personality traits in first impressions: An investigation of actual and perceived personality similarity effects on interpersonal attraction across communication modalities. Journal of Research in Personality, 76, 139–149.
Project 2. Facebook impressions as predictors of Interpersonal Attraction on Face-to-Face encounters
In a second project, we investigate whether first impressions on Facebook predict later social and task attraction in face-to-face contexts. This project is currently in data collection phase, again comprising three steps:
- First, participants rated their own personality.
- Second, participants rated another participant’s personality traits and his / her interpersonal attraction toward that person after browsing the other person’s Facebook profile for one minute.
- Third, pairs of participants were invited to Simlab for face-to-face interactions. A social interaction task and a cooperation task were given to pairs, each lasted for five minutes. The interactions were video recorded. Afterwards, pairs rated one another in terms of personality traits and interpersonal attraction.
Design Feedback Assistant Tool (a.k.a. DFAT)

Design education is essentially based on learning-by-doing approach. It requires the instructor to guide and support every individual student in their design processes by feedback. The important role of feedback in the learning processes, raises questions about how feedback is perceived by the students and how it needs to be delivered for effective learning.
Building on the literature, we suggest that feedback tailored for individual differences may improve the effectiveness of the learning process. Our aim is to build a platform facilitating exchange of feedback between the instructor and students in design studio. It will allow the mentor to tailor the feedback approach based on what the tool predicts as the type of feedback that would motivate the student.
To do so, we are creating student profiles by investigating key individual difference variables that may influence the extent to which a student is motivated by a type of feedback. The primary data was collected from design students via a combination of surveys (i.e., focusing on individual differences and feedback responses), in-depth interviews and participant observations in 11 different design courses.
Building on the literature, we suggest that feedback tailored for individual differences may improve the effectiveness of the learning process. Our aim is to build a platform facilitating exchange of feedback between the instructor and students in design studio. It will allow the mentor to tailor the feedback approach based on what the tool predicts as the type of feedback that would motivate the student.
To do so, we are creating student profiles by investigating key individual difference variables that may influence the extent to which a student is motivated by a type of feedback. The primary data was collected from design students via a combination of surveys (i.e., focusing on individual differences and feedback responses), in-depth interviews and participant observations in 11 different design courses.
To this end, using seed funding provided by Koç University and Arçelik, we (Simlab) and our colleague Aykut Coşkun from KUAR-Design Lab:
1. Developed an integrated design feedback taxonomy using the literature.
2. Explored the relation between various combinations of individual difference variables (i.e., user profiles) and types of feedback and feedback responses defined in the taxonomy and motivational outcome. So far we have focused on motivational needs, personality traits, goal orientations and self-regulation as individual difference variables.
3. Were able to come up with some preliminary student profiles suggesting what kinds of feedback can be motivating or discouraging for the individual and the type of response to expect from different profiles.
4. Developed a low-fidelity prototype of the platform.
Next step is going to be developing the software for the platform and initiating beta testing. The platform will be using machine learning which will make the data collection and profiling more effective. We also want to see if the profile of an individual changes or if new profiles come out over time. In the long run, we want to adapt DFAT to design work environments to support teams engaged in new product development.
Below is a diagram (in Turkish) describing the flow for the functioning of the DFAT tool.
1. Developed an integrated design feedback taxonomy using the literature.
2. Explored the relation between various combinations of individual difference variables (i.e., user profiles) and types of feedback and feedback responses defined in the taxonomy and motivational outcome. So far we have focused on motivational needs, personality traits, goal orientations and self-regulation as individual difference variables.
3. Were able to come up with some preliminary student profiles suggesting what kinds of feedback can be motivating or discouraging for the individual and the type of response to expect from different profiles.
4. Developed a low-fidelity prototype of the platform.
Next step is going to be developing the software for the platform and initiating beta testing. The platform will be using machine learning which will make the data collection and profiling more effective. We also want to see if the profile of an individual changes or if new profiles come out over time. In the long run, we want to adapt DFAT to design work environments to support teams engaged in new product development.
Below is a diagram (in Turkish) describing the flow for the functioning of the DFAT tool.
Personality Traits, Privacy Attitudes and Social Media Use
The aim of the project is to investigate users’ motivations associated with and gratifications derived from use of SNS sites (specifically Facebook and Twitter). Particularly, the project will study the relationship between personality traits and users’ tendency to utilize SNS sites for 1) socialization, 2) social browsing (and common voyeuristic curiosity), and 3) surveillance (information seeking) related activities. The project utilizes several different questionnaires conducted in the U.S. and in Turkey.
The project introduces a multi-dimensional scale measuring privacy attitudes of users and will discuss how differences in users’ privacy orientations is related to different SNS usage types. An article published in Personality and Individual Differences summarises the structure of privacy attitudes:
The multidimensional scale has 18 items, all measured using a 5-point likert scale (ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree):
Dimension 1: Privacy as a Right
Dimension 2: Concern about Own Informational Privacy
Dimension 3: Other-Contingent Privacy
Dimension 4: Concern about Privacy of Others
Please feel free to use (and/or translate) scale. We would appreciate it greatly if you could notify us about an translation of the scale.
Citation Information:
The project introduces a multi-dimensional scale measuring privacy attitudes of users and will discuss how differences in users’ privacy orientations is related to different SNS usage types. An article published in Personality and Individual Differences summarises the structure of privacy attitudes:
- There are four distinction dimensions of privacy: (1) belief in the value of “privacy as a right”; (2) “other-contingent privacy”; (3) “concern about own informational privacy” and (4) “concern about privacy of others.”
- A segmentation of users in terms of these four dimensions of privacy points to three distinct types of users: 1) privacy advocates,who are concerned about both their own and other people’s privacy; (2) privacy individualists, who are concerned mostly about their own privacy, and (3) privacy indifferents, whose score on all dimensions are lower than other segments.User segments are privacy advocates, privacy individualists, privacy indifferents.
- Users who value others’ privacy are less likely to invade informational privacy.
- Privacy individualists use social network sites for satisfying voyeuristic curiosity.
- Reciprocating disclosure is more likely for privacy advocates than for individualists.
The multidimensional scale has 18 items, all measured using a 5-point likert scale (ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree):
Dimension 1: Privacy as a Right
- Privacy laws should be strengthened to protect personal privacy.
- People need legal protection against misuse of personal data.
- If I were to write a constitution today, I would probably add privacy as a fundamental right.
Dimension 2: Concern about Own Informational Privacy
- When I share the details of my personal life with somebody, I often worry that he/she will tell those details to other people.
- I am concerned that people around me know too much about me.
- I am concerned with the consequences of sharing identity information
- I worry about sharing information with more people than I intend to.
Dimension 3: Other-Contingent Privacy
- If somebody is not careful about protecting their own privacy, I cannot trust them about respecting mine.
- If I am to enjoy some privacy in my life, I need my friends to be careful about protecting their privacy as well.
- I could never trust someone as my confidant if they go around sharing details about their own private lives.
- The level of privacy that I can enjoy depends on the extent to which people around me protect their own privacy.
Dimension 4: Concern about Privacy of Others
- It is important for me to respect the privacy of individuals, even if they are not careful about protecting their own privacy.
- I value other people's privacy as much as I value mine
- Even when somebody is not careful about his/her privacy, I do my best to respect that person's privacy
- I always do my best not to intrude into other people's private lives
- Respect for others' privacy should be an important priority in social relations
Please feel free to use (and/or translate) scale. We would appreciate it greatly if you could notify us about an translation of the scale.
Citation Information:
- Baruh, Lemi, and Zeynep Cemalcılar. (2014). It Is More than Personal: Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Privacy Orientation Scale. Personality and Individual Differences 70 (November). Elsevier Ltd: 165–70. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.06.042.
- Baruh, L. Bal, H. M., & Cemalcılar, Z. (2015). A Multidimensional Privacy Orientation Scale: Development and Validation with Turkish Twitter Users. In B. Akdenizli (ed.) Digital Transformations in Turkey: Exploring Current Perspectives in Communication Studies. Lexington Books.
Disclosure of Information in Social Network Sites and Its Impact on Interpersonal Attraction
Through a series of experiments, SIMLAB has been investigating how information disclosure on social network sites (SNS) may influence impression formation about and interpersonal attraction to the owner of the profile. These experiments primarily focus on two characteristics of disclosure: its breadth (quantity of information disclosed by a profile owner) and its depth (sensitivity of the information).
We are also investigating how expectations about gender norms interact with disclosure in ways that may influence an SNS profile viewers' impressions of the profile owner and/or their intentions to pursue further interactions with the profile owner.
In these projects, SIMLAB has collaborated with:
Funding/Support: Time Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS-PID775).
Related Publications:
We are also investigating how expectations about gender norms interact with disclosure in ways that may influence an SNS profile viewers' impressions of the profile owner and/or their intentions to pursue further interactions with the profile owner.
In these projects, SIMLAB has collaborated with:
- Yoram Chisik, University of Madeira
- Christophe Bisson, Kadir Has University
- Başak Şenova, Freelance Designer
Funding/Support: Time Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS-PID775).
Related Publications:
- Baruh, L., Cemalcılar, Z., Bisson, C., & Chisik, Y. (2017). First impressions on Social Network Sites: Impact of Self-Disclosure Breadth on Attraction. In A. Skarzauskiene & N. Gudeliene (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th European Conference on Social Media (pp. 54–62). Vilnius: Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited.
- Baruh, L. & Cemalcılar, Z. (2015). Rubbernecking effect of intimate information on Twitter: When getting attention works against interpersonal attraction. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(9), 506-513.
- Baruh, L., Chisik, Y., Bisson, C., & Senova, B. (2014). When Sharing Less Means More: How Profile Owners’ and Viewers’ Gender Moderate the Impact of Quantity of Information Shared in a Social Network Profile on Viewers’ Intentions about Socialization. Communication Research Reports, 31(3), 244-251.
- Baruh, L., Chisik, Y., Bisson, C., & Senova, B. (2012). More or Less: Amount of Personal Information Displayed in Social Network Site Profiles and Its Impact on Viewers’ Intentions to Socialize with the Profile Owner. Proceedings of the ICWSM ’12 Sixth International AAAI Conference on Weblogs and Social Media, pp. 395-399. AAAI Press.
COncORDE - Development of Coordination Mechanisms During Different Kinds of Emergencies

COncORDE is a three-year project which started in May 2014. It focuses on the development of Decision Support Systems for Emergencies.
Abstract: The threat of mass casualty incidents or medical surges to healthcare systems has always been present. Preparing essential parts of the healthcare system such as hospitals and their partners to prevent, respond, and rapidly recover from these threats is critical for protecting and securing the entire health infrastructure. Large-scale disaster situations causing mass casualty incidents are characterised by large numbers of same-type injuries which require immediate and simultaneous medical intervention and means of support such as ambulances, surgeries, specialists, diagnostic equipment and others.
These characteristics underline the need for enhanced communication between medical institutions and other organisations involved in disaster management. At the same time, the surge of demand for services to patients points to the need for better organisation within hospitals concerning the deployment of specialists and the availability of medical supplies, transportation, rooms and equipment.
While a variety of incidents may necessitate an emergency response, different types of such incidents (natural disasters, explosions, humanitarian crises and others) mean a different framework for responders. While health responders are ubiquitous in their involvement with the response to an emergency situation, the parameters regarding how they are involved greatly differ with the type of threat represented.
The COncORDE project will develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to improve preparedness and interoperability of medical services during an emergency which affects the health of the population at local, regional or cross-border level. The project will incorporate existing operational assets related to security, trust and infrastructure and leverage them within the DSS.
Funding/Support: European Commission Seventh Framework Programme
Partners of the project:
Abstract: The threat of mass casualty incidents or medical surges to healthcare systems has always been present. Preparing essential parts of the healthcare system such as hospitals and their partners to prevent, respond, and rapidly recover from these threats is critical for protecting and securing the entire health infrastructure. Large-scale disaster situations causing mass casualty incidents are characterised by large numbers of same-type injuries which require immediate and simultaneous medical intervention and means of support such as ambulances, surgeries, specialists, diagnostic equipment and others.
These characteristics underline the need for enhanced communication between medical institutions and other organisations involved in disaster management. At the same time, the surge of demand for services to patients points to the need for better organisation within hospitals concerning the deployment of specialists and the availability of medical supplies, transportation, rooms and equipment.
While a variety of incidents may necessitate an emergency response, different types of such incidents (natural disasters, explosions, humanitarian crises and others) mean a different framework for responders. While health responders are ubiquitous in their involvement with the response to an emergency situation, the parameters regarding how they are involved greatly differ with the type of threat represented.
The COncORDE project will develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to improve preparedness and interoperability of medical services during an emergency which affects the health of the population at local, regional or cross-border level. The project will incorporate existing operational assets related to security, trust and infrastructure and leverage them within the DSS.
Funding/Support: European Commission Seventh Framework Programme
Partners of the project:
- Cambridge University Hospitals
- European Dynamics
- INOVAMAIS
- Koç University
- University of Cyprus
- Elliniki Omada Diasosis
- Stichting Crisislab
- Siveco Romania SA
- Crisis Training AS
- Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
- National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos"
- Global Security Intelligence Limited
- Public Safety Communication Europe Forum
- ESRI Portugal - Sistemas E Informacao Geografica SA
COSMIC – The Contribution Of Social Media In Crisis Management

COSMIC Is a two-year project, which started in April 2013. COSMIC project aims to identify effective ways to utilise new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in crisis situations and emergencies for the protection of ordinary citizens.
Abstract: COSMIC will review information and communication needs, infrastructure bottlenecks, security priorities and major stakeholders associated with crisis situations, particularly those involved at search and rescue missions/operations, and the role of first responders in those situations. Second, the project will examine new ICTs and applications and their use (or misuse) in crisis situations. Next, the project will explore emerging ICTs and applications, and identify political, social and industrial challenges and opportunities arising from these. The project will develop scenarios that consider possibilities for their use in crisis situations by the public, officials and first responders; and will examine the role of citizens as first responders, social activists and citizen journalists in new media communication, and the ethical issues and political consequences of citizen participation. The project will result in a set of guidelines for citizens, government authorities, first responders and industry for the most effective use of ICTs to aid citizen security during crises.
Funding/Support: European Commission Seventh Framework Programme
Partners of the project:
Related Publications:
Abstract: COSMIC will review information and communication needs, infrastructure bottlenecks, security priorities and major stakeholders associated with crisis situations, particularly those involved at search and rescue missions/operations, and the role of first responders in those situations. Second, the project will examine new ICTs and applications and their use (or misuse) in crisis situations. Next, the project will explore emerging ICTs and applications, and identify political, social and industrial challenges and opportunities arising from these. The project will develop scenarios that consider possibilities for their use in crisis situations by the public, officials and first responders; and will examine the role of citizens as first responders, social activists and citizen journalists in new media communication, and the ethical issues and political consequences of citizen participation. The project will result in a set of guidelines for citizens, government authorities, first responders and industry for the most effective use of ICTs to aid citizen security during crises.
Funding/Support: European Commission Seventh Framework Programme
Partners of the project:
- European Dynamics, Greece (Project Coordinator)
- Trilateral Research and Consulting, LLP, United Kingdom
- Koç University, Turkey (Principal Investigator: Lemi Baruh, Researcher: Salvatore Scifo)
- Public Safety Communication Europe, Belgium
- Radboud University Nijmegen (Crisislab), Netherlands
- Hellenic Rescue Team, Greece
- Safety Region South Holland South, Netherlands
Related Publications:
- Baruh, L. (2015). Social media and citizen engagement in crises. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, 6(2), 131-140. (Fulltext Access: Green Open Access PDF, Formatted PDF)
- Bal, H. M. & Baruh, L. (2015). Citizen involvement in emergency reporting: A study on witnessing and citizen journalism. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, 6(2), 213-232. (Fulltext Access: Green Open Access PDF, Formatted PDF)
- Scifo, S. & Salman, Y. (2015). Citizens’ involvement in emergency preparedness and response: A comparative analysis of media strategies and online presence in Turkey, Italy and Germany. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, 6(2), 179-198. (Fulltext Access: Formatted PDF)
- Gunel, Z. & Karaoğlu, G. (2015). Transformation of collective action space: A study on the relationship between organizational attributes and ICT use. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture, 6(2), 245-263. (Fulltext Access: Formatted PDF)
- Baruh, L., Scifo, S., & Watson, H. (2015). Misuse of Information Technologies and Reliability of Information in New Media During Emergencies. In M. Khosrow-Pour (ed.) Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology (3rd Ed), IGI Global.
- Baruh, L., & Watson, H. (2014). Using Twitter for What? A Segmentation Study of Twitter Usage During Gezi Protests. In A. Rospigliosi & S. Green (eds.) Proceedings of the European Conference on Social Media (ECSM), pp. 33-41. Bristol, UK.
- Watson, H., Baruh, L., Finn, R.F., & Scifo, S., (2014). Citizen (in)security?: social media, citizen journalism and crisis response. Proceedings of the 11th International ISCRAM Conference, pp. 299-303. University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.