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Kim-Phuong L. Vu
Department of Psychology
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840
Office: PSY 333; Phone: (562) 985 5021; Fax: (562) 985 8004

Education: E-mail: kvu8@csulb.edu

Ph.D., 2003, Purdue University, Cognitive Psychology                                                      Quick Links: BeachBoard
M.S., 2000, Purdue University, Cognitive Psychology                                                                              Webmail
B.A., 1999, California State University Long Beach, Psychology                                                            PSI CHI
                                                                                                                                                               HFES Student Chapter

Specialty Area(s):

Human Cognition
Human Performance
Human Factors
Human-Computer Interaction

To view my vita, which contains information about my professional preparation, honors and awards, publications, and synergistic activities, click on the Curriculum Vitae link below. You will need a PDF viewer to open the file. To download a version of Adobe PDF, click here.
Curriculum Vitae

Courses: Student Organization Advisor:

Research Methods PSI CHI (co-advisor with Dr. Courtney Ahrens)
Human Factors HFES Long Beach Student Chapter

Perception and Cognition

Research Interests:

Human Cognition and Performance
My primary area of research focuses on the topic of action, or response, selection. Action selection refers to how a speeded decision is made regarding which action to take in response to perceptual events. One of the major factors affecting efficiency of action selection is stimulus-response compatibility (SRC). SRC refers to the fact that performance is better with certain mappings of stimuli to responses than others. For example, if participants are asked to press a left or right key in response to a light appearing to the left or right, performance is better with the compatible mapping of left stimulus to left response and right stimulus to right response than the alternative incompatible mapping. Studies of SRC effects have been a valuable tool to study automatic and intentional processes associated with the response selection that intervene between perception and action. In addition, research in the area of action selection has implications for how displays and controls should be organized and mapped in order to achieve efficient performance, with minimal errors.

Human Factors and Human-Computer Interaction
My secondary area of research focuses on human factors and human-computer interaction. A fundamental idea underlying human factors is that systems and interfaces must be designed with the users in mind if the systems are to accomplish their goals effectively. This is particularly true for transactions initiated through the Internet because they often involve extensive human interactions with the system. Thus, my basic research on human cognition and performance has much to offer to the design of user interfaces and applications for the Internet. My work in this area includes use of metacognitive judgments to predict computer expertise, human factors issues in Web design and the role of password restrictions in the memorability and security of passwords for single and multiple accounts. I am co-editor of the Handbook of Human Factors in Web Design (2005; for more information about the book, click on the link below) and co-author of the forthcoming book, Stimulus-Response Compatibility: Data, Theory, and Application (in press; for more information about the book, click on the link below).

Handbook of Human Factors in Web Design

Stimulus-Response Compatibility: Data, Theory, and Application

Links to My Affiliated Universities:
CSU Long Beach: Psychology Department

CSU Northridge: Psychology Department

Purdue University: Department of Psychological Sciences