Jessica K Witt

Biographic Data

ID	1663304
NAME	Jessica K Witt
GIVEN NAMES	Jessica K
FAMILY NAME	Witt
SIGNATURE	WITT J K
AFFILIATIONS	Colorado State University
ORCID	0000-0003-1139-1599
VERIFIED	Yes
TOTAL WORKS	5
TOTAL CITATIONS	5
WORKS AS AUTHOR	5
WORKS AS EDITOR	0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR	2015
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR	2025
H-INDEX	1

Visualizing versus verbalizing uncertainty in intelligence analysis
Open AccessMandeep K Dhami, Jessica K Witt et al.ARTICLEIntelligence & National Security2025
We compared the probability terms used by Western intelligence organizations against two visual encoding channel-based representations of uncertainty (i.e. darkness and thickness). Analysts were more sensitive to the probability being communicated under the word than thickness condition but not the darkness condition, with no difference among the visual conditions. However, sensitivity was not perfect. There was no difference in inter-individual …
Visualizing Uncertainty in Hurricane Forecasts with Animated Risk Trajectories
Jessica K Witt, Zachary M Labe et al.ARTICLEWeather, Climate, and Society2023
Hurricane forecasts are often communicated through visualizations depicting the possible future track of the storm. The cone of uncertainty (COU) is a commonly used visualization, but the graphic is prone to misinterpretation such as thinking only locations contained within the cone’s boundary are at risk. In this study, we investigated the utility of conveying hurricane forecast tracks using a set of animated icons, each representing an instance…
To Vaccinate or Not? The Role Played by Uncertainty Communication on Public Understanding and Behavior Regarding Covid-19
Open AccessNicole C Kelp, Jessica K Witt et al.ARTICLEScience Communication2021Cited by: 4
Communication regarding COVID-19 vaccines requires evidence-based strategies. We present findings from a quantitative survey measuring participants’ understanding, trust, and decision-making in response to information conveying low or high uncertainty regarding the vaccine. Communication conveying high uncertainty led to lower self-assessed understanding but higher actual understanding of possible outcomes. Communication conveying low uncertainty…
In absence of an explicit judgment, action-specific effects still influence an action measure of perceived speed
Open AccessJessica K WittARTICLEConsciousness and Cognition2018
Action-specific influences on perception and postperceptual processes
Open AccessJohn W Philbeck, Jessica K WittARTICLEPsychological Bulletin2015Cited by: 1References: 1
The action-specific perception account holds that people perceive the environment in terms of their ability to act in it. In this view, for example, decreased ability to climb a hill because of fatigue makes the hill visually appear to be steeper. Though influential, this account has not been universally accepted, and in fact a heated controversy has emerged. The opposing view holds that action capability has little or no influence on perception.…

Action-specific influences on perception and postperceptual processes
Open AccessJohn W Philbeck, Jessica K WittARTICLEPsychological Bulletin2015Cited by: 1References: 1
The action-specific perception account holds that people perceive the environment in terms of their ability to act in it. In this view, for example, decreased ability to climb a hill because of fatigue makes the hill visually appear to be steeper. Though influential, this account has not been universally accepted, and in fact a heated controversy has emerged. The opposing view holds that action capability has little or no influence on perception.…
In absence of an explicit judgment, action-specific effects still influence an action measure of perceived speed
Open AccessJessica K WittARTICLEConsciousness and Cognition2018
To Vaccinate or Not? The Role Played by Uncertainty Communication on Public Understanding and Behavior Regarding Covid-19
Open AccessNicole C Kelp, Jessica K Witt et al.ARTICLEScience Communication2021Cited by: 4
Communication regarding COVID-19 vaccines requires evidence-based strategies. We present findings from a quantitative survey measuring participants’ understanding, trust, and decision-making in response to information conveying low or high uncertainty regarding the vaccine. Communication conveying high uncertainty led to lower self-assessed understanding but higher actual understanding of possible outcomes. Communication conveying low uncertainty…
Visualizing Uncertainty in Hurricane Forecasts with Animated Risk Trajectories
Jessica K Witt, Zachary M Labe et al.ARTICLEWeather, Climate, and Society2023
Hurricane forecasts are often communicated through visualizations depicting the possible future track of the storm. The cone of uncertainty (COU) is a commonly used visualization, but the graphic is prone to misinterpretation such as thinking only locations contained within the cone’s boundary are at risk. In this study, we investigated the utility of conveying hurricane forecast tracks using a set of animated icons, each representing an instance…
Visualizing versus verbalizing uncertainty in intelligence analysis
Open AccessMandeep K Dhami, Jessica K Witt et al.ARTICLEIntelligence & National Security2025
We compared the probability terms used by Western intelligence organizations against two visual encoding channel-based representations of uncertainty (i.e. darkness and thickness). Analysts were more sensitive to the probability being communicated under the word than thickness condition but not the darkness condition, with no difference among the visual conditions. However, sensitivity was not perfect. There was no difference in inter-individual …