Student Research
in Action
Issue 9: Spring 2026
Understanding Decision-Making Through Eye-Tracking Technology
Photography by: Izzy Chinchilla
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The Kautz-Uible Economics Institute offers valuable training opportunities for economics students through direct engagement with cutting-edge technology – enabling students not only to support research, but to actively contribute to it, while developing the technical and analytical skills that are increasingly essential across academic and industry settings.
Among these resources is advanced eye-tracking technology, which allows students to study how individuals process information in real time: capturing where they look, how long they focus, and how decisions unfold.
We are proud to partner on this work with the University of Southern Indiana’s Romain College of Business, under the leadership of Dean Sudesh Mujumdar, PhD, a UC Economics alumnus – with hands-on student-led projects already taking shape at the Institute under the supervision of Dr. Michael Jones.
What makes this work especially impactful is the level of ownership Mirsayah and Sarvinoz bring to the research process.
Dr. Michael Jones
Headshot, left: Mirsayah Wasnuk
Headshot, right: Sarvinoz Atanazarova
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Photo: Mirsayah (left) and Sarvinoz (right) walking through a study using the eye-tracking technology.
Using eye-tracking devices that capture real-time data on visual attention and decision-making, two KU Scholars – Mirsayah Wasnuk and Sarvinoz Atanazarova – are developing distinct projects that examine how individuals process information. These studies are currently in the development phase, as both students work on refining materials and navigating the IRB process, giving them an invaluable front-row perspective on research design.
For Mirsayah, involvement with this initiative began with a growing interest to enhance her economics education through research. Institute Director Dr. Debashis Pal connected her with Dr. Jones, who introduced her to the eye-tracking technology and early concepts behind the project – an opportunity that immediately resonated.
As a triple major in Business Economics, International Business, and Information Systems, she was drawn to the potential of technology to provide insight into how individuals approach complex problems.
Left: A close up of the eye-tracking device.
Right: Sarvinoz and Mirsayah working with the eye-tracking technology
Mirsayah’s project explores critical thinking through a business case study. Participants will work through the case while wearing eye-tracking glasses, allowing insight into not just their answers, but how they process the information in real time.
By analyzing where individuals focus their attention, how long they engage with key details, and what they may overlook, the research aims to identify common areas for improvement to share with faculty, providing clearer insight into where gaps may exist in the current curriculum.
Working on the design of this project has already proven to be a valuable experiential learning opportunity.
“This experience has been eye-opening in showing how intricate research can be,” Mirsayah shares. “At first, it seems simple. But once you start building the study, you realize how many layers there are. It’s incredibly complex, and there are roadblocks – but those are challenges I’m excited to solve.”
For Sarvinoz, a Business Economics and Information Systems student, involvement with the project began with curiosity. After learning about the initiative through Dr. Pal, she was drawn to the concept of the behavioral technology and a chance to explore a question that has long interested her: why do people make the decisions they make?
That interest traces back to high school, where she first discovered economics as a way to understand human behavior. Now, as she looks toward a future in analytics, she views research as an opportunity to apply those insights in a practical setting.
Sarvinoz’s project focuses on how hiring managers evaluate resumes. Using the eye-tracking technology, she will be studying how recruiters visually scan resumes – what they notice first, what draws their attention, and how long they spend on different sections.
“This study is designed to move beyond assumptions,” she explains. “Traditional advice often relies on what recruiters say they look for, but this approach captures what they actually do.”
By tracking where hiring managers focus their attention and what they prioritize, the research aims to better understand how resumes are evaluated in practice – and how students can more effectively present their experiences and skills.
As these studies continue to develop, they will offer new insights into how individuals process information and make decisions, which can in turn be used to inform both research and practice.
Together, these projects reflect the kind of experiential learning opportunities we strive to create for our students in a supportive, hands-on environment that places them at the forefront of innovative research.
"What makes this work especially impactful is the level of ownership Mirsayah and Sarvinoz bring to the research process," shared Dr. Jones. "They are not simply supporting these projects – they are designing, testing, and refining them. That kind of experience is invaluable, and it speaks to the caliber of students we have engaged in this initiative.”