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Malaysian Face Database Project (MDFP)
Date
2023 - Ongoing
Role
Principal Investigator
Project type
Database Development & Validation Study
Status
Data Collection Phase
Keywords
Face Database, Cultural Diversity, Southeast Asian Faces, Stimulus Development, Cross-Cultural Research, Non-WEIRD Populations,
The Malaysian Face Database Project addresses a critical gap in face perception research by creating the first comprehensive facial stimulus database representative of Malaysia's diverse ethnic composition. Most existing face databases originate from WEIRD countries (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic), limiting the ecological validity of research conducted in Southeast Asian contexts.
This project systematically develops standardized and unstandardized facial photographs across multiple expressions (natural, neutral, happy, sad, angry, fearful, surprised, disgusted) and viewing angles (frontal, profile, three-quarter views) using rigorous photographic protocols. The database captures Malaysia's multicultural population, providing researchers with culturally appropriate stimuli that reflect the demographic reality of the region.
This resource will enhance the ecological validity of face perception studies conducted in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, contributing to non-WEIRD research while providing a critical tool for cross-cultural psychology investigations. The database serves researchers studying facial emotion recognition, identity processing, and cultural differences in face perception, addressing the underrepresentation of Southeast Asian populations in psychological research.