Research interests

Visual judgements of approaching objects by children

I am currently investigating children’s perceptual abilities when viewing approaching objects. Detection of looming objects and judgements of time to arrival are critical for survival in everyday tasks such as crossing the road. The research aims to determine the visual processing skills of children aged 6-11 in a naturalistic scene, using simulation tools to create a virtual roadside setting.

Experimental questions include:

• How sensitive are children of different ages to looming and distance cues required to estimate vehicle speeds

• Is time, distance or speed used in children’s judgements of when vehicles will pass them?

• Are distance cues or looming thresholds the best predictor of errors in a simulated road crossing task?

I am also conducting further research on differences in adult judgements of vehicle approach under optimal viewing conditions, as well as when the observer is in simulated motion (e.g., forward motion or head rotation). This research also addresses judgments of approaching objects of different sizes (cars and motorbikes) in order to identify potential visual processing factors involved in collisions with vulnerable road users.

Perceptual anticipation of movement

Research conducted as part of my PhD focused on the acquisition of perceptual anticipation skills, looking at the use of information cues by observers of different skill levels as well as what the optimal learning conditions for anticipation of skilled movement are (see Poulter, Jackson, Wann & Berry, 2005). More recently I have collaborated on a project examining how disguise of skilled movement affects anticipation (see Rowe, Horswill, Kronvall-Parkinson, Poulter, & McKenna, 2009).

Driving behaviour and attitudes

I have also conducted research on a variety of topics related to driving behaviour and road safety with Professor Frank McKenna at the University of Reading, including the effectiveness of interventions in improving attitudes to road safety, attitudes to speeding and other antisocial behaviours, perception of speed on urban and rural roads, close following, and other related topics. In addition, I have also worked with Dr David Crundall and Dr Peter Chapman at the Accident Research Unit at the University of Nottingham, investigating driving and compliance behaviour of occupational drivers, as well as motorcyclists’ hazard perception skills.

Publications:

Poulter, D.R. & McKenna, F.P. (in press). Evaluating the effectiveness of a road safety education intervention for pre-drivers: An application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. British Journal of Educational Psychology.

Poulter, D.R. (2009). Home advantage and player nationality in international club soccer. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27, 797-805.

Rowe, R., Horswill, M.S., Kronvall-Parkinson, M., Poulter, D.R., & McKenna, F.P. (2009). The effect of disguise on novice and expert tennis players’ anticipation ability. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 21, 178-185.

McKenna, F.P., and Poulter, D.R. (2008). Speed Awareness: The effect of education versus punishment on driver attitudes. In W-R. Nickel & M. Korán (eds.) Fit to Drive 2008. Kirschbaum-Verlag: Bonn.

Poulter, D.R., Chapman, P.R., Bibby, P.A. Clarke, D., Crundall, D.E. (2008).

An application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to truck driving behaviour and compliance with regulations. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 40, 2058-2064.

Poulter, D.R., & McKenna, F.P. (2007). Is speeding a “real” antisocial behavior? A comparison with other antisocial behaviors, Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39, 384-389.

Poulter, D.R., Jackson, R.C., Wann, J.P., & Berry, D.C. (2005). The effect of learning condition on perceptual anticipation, awareness, and visual search. Human Movement Science, 24, 345-361.

Wulf, G., Weigelt, M., Poulter, D.R., & McNevin, N. (2003). Attentional focus on supra-postural tasks affects balance learning. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 56A, 1191-1211.