Prof. Dr. André Melzer

André Melzer

Assistant professor in Psychology

Fakultät oder Zentrum Fakultät für Geisteswissenschaften, Erziehungswissenschaften und Sozialwissenschaften
Department Fachbereich Verhaltens- und Kognitionswissenschaften
Postadresse Université du Luxembourg
Maison des Sciences Humaines
11, Porte des Sciences
L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette
Büroadresse MSH, E04 45-030
E-Mail
Telefon (+352) 46 66 44 9614

André Melzer is Assistant Professor in Psychology and study programme director of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BAP) at the University of Luxembourg. He received a doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Trier (Germany) in 2002. Before he joined the University of Luxembourg in 2008, Dr. Melzer worked in departments of Psychology at the University of Trier and the Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf (Germany). He was also a research associate at the interdisciplinary Institute for Multimedia and Interactive Systems, a Computer Science department at the University of Luebeck (Germany).

Dr. Melzer’s research mainly focuses on the use and effects of interactive media, with a particular emphasis on video games and their implications. Based on theories of media psychology and social psychology, his fields of research cover video games and morality, gender roles and gender stereotypes in the media, children’s media use, and parental mediation. The latter aspect also includes issues of social engineering and the psychological aspects of data security. Dr. Melzer is head of MExLab (Media and Experimental Laboratory), where he also conducts most of his experimental studies.

Within the Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, Dr. Melzer is deputy head of the Institute of Health and Behaviour led by Prof. Georges Steffgen. Together, they led the PREVAMI research project (“Preventing violence and aggressive behaviour in children and adolescents using interactive media instruments”), an international research project aimed at the use and effects of violent video games and the prevention of violence and aggressive behaviour.

Since 2013, Dr. Melzer has led a series of research projects in close cooperation with the Luxembourgish Ministry for Equality between Women and Men (MEGA). From 2013 to 2015, Dr. Melzer led the SGM research project (“Stereotype Geschlechterrollen in den Medien”), which focused on the analysis of gender portrayals in the media, especially in video games and song lyrics. The research project aimed at the consequences of personal beliefs regarding “typical“ male and female gender roles in the media: How do media recipients perceive gender stereotypes? The 2018 research project analysed the use and effects of adolescents and young adults’ media use in Luxembourg, with a special emphasis on gender attitudes and beliefs related to media use. Since 2019, Dr. Melzer supervises the PhD project of Miriam-Linnea Hale “From stereotypes to hostile sexism – A psychological analysis of conceptions about gender” funded by MEGA.

Dr. Melzer has predominately published in the fields of interactive media use and media effects in children, adolescents and adults. He has also published on social psychological mechanisms in social engineering. His previous work on implicit and explicit memory focuses on, but is not limited to, memory for commercial information.

His teaching experiences at the University of Luxembourg include courses in Social Psychology, Introduction to the Study of Psychology, and Practical Training in Experimental Psychology within the BSc in Psychology. In the Master of Psychology: Track Psychological Intervention, Dr. Melzer teaches Media Psychology. In the professional Master in Information System Security Management, his course Human Risk was on the psychological aspects of data security, with humans as the weakest link in the security chain. Additional teaching experiences at other affiliations cover General Psychology (Perception and Cognition), Work Psychology, Hypermedia Systems, and Entertainment Computing.

Last updated on: Donnerstag, den 21. Januar 2021

Dr. Melzer's recent media research interests focus on the use and effects of interactive media: How do entertainment media affect cognition, emotion, and behaviour? Among other topics, he is currently interested in the following aspects:

  • Morality in video games: How do gamers perceive morality? Which factors determine whether events in video games will be perceived as moral or immoral?
  • Gender roles and stereotypes: Which gender roles and stereotypes do interactive media transport? How do users perceive them?
  • Effects of media violence: Which factors increase the effects of media on aggression? On the other hand, what are the protective factors?
  • Violent video game preference: Who uses violent games, and why do people prefer these games?
  • Remembering information from media: What do people recall from media (e.g., from video games, commercials, or advertising), what do they remember without explicit instruction to do so (i.e., implicit memory)?

With regard to social engineering, Dr. Melzer is interested in the psychological aspects of data security:

  • Why might people be considered the weakest link in the security chain?
  • Which psychological mechanisms cause people to divulge personal information?
  • How can people defend against social engineering attacks?

 



Last updated on: 21 Jan 2021



Last updated on: 25 Mär 2022

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2022

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See detailLast Man Standing: Battle Royale Games Through the Lens of Self-Determination Theory
Fernandez de Henestrosa, Martha; Billieux, Joël; Melzer, André

in Games and Culture (2022), 0(0), 1-22

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See detailMoral minds in gaming – A quantitative case study of moral decisions in Detroit: Become Human
Holl, Elisabeth; Melzer, André

in Journal of Media Psychology (2022)

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See detailTo Kill or Not to Kill – An experimental test of moral Decision-Making in gaming
Holl, Elisabeth; Steffgen, Georges; Melzer, André

in Entertainment Computing (2022)

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See detailMindfulness extends the trans-contextual model for autonomous motivation in physical education and leisuretime
Hutmacher, Djenna; Eckelt, Melanie; Bund, Andreas; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022), 19(20),

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See detailMeatless masculinity: Examining profiles of male veg*n eating motives and their relation to gendered self-concepts
Kakoschke, Kim; Hale, Miriam-Linnea; Sischka, Philipp; Melzer, André

in Current Psychology (2022)

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2021

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See detailMoral Judgment in Video Games: Effects of Medium, Moral Intuitions and Media-Based Empathy
Grohmann, Lara; Holl, Elisabeth; Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2021, September)

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See detailMotivation to Play Scale (MOPS): Measuring Gaming Motivation With a Comprehensive Instrument
Holl, Elisabeth; Wagener, Gary Lee; Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2021, May)

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See detailAn Integrative Model of Moral Processing for the Video Game Medium
Melzer, André; Holl, Elisabeth

Scientific Conference (2021, September)

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See detailPsychological contract violation or basic need frustration? Psychological mechanisms behind the effects of workplace bullying
Sischka, Philipp; Melzer, André; Schmidt, Alexander F.; Steffgen, Georges

in Frontiers in Psychology (2021)

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See detailNationwide implementation of media literacy training sessions on internet safety
Tiemann, Aline; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

in Communications: the European Journal of Communication Research (2021)

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2020

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See detailUnderstanding Moral Decision-Making in Video Games: A Focus Group Study
Holl, Elisabeth; Bernard, Steve; Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2020, May)

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See detailMoral decision-making in video games: A focus group study on player perceptions
Holl, Elisabeth; Bernard, Steve; Melzer, André

in Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies (2020)

See detailCorona and the Media
Holl, Elisabeth; Hale, Miriam-Linnea; Melzer, André

in Mein, Georg; Pause, Johannes (Eds.) Self and Society in the Corona Crisis (2020)

See detailVon Pong zur Panik? Videospiele als gesellschaftlich relevantes Forschungsthema
Melzer, André

in Amann, Wilhelm; Sieburg, Heinz (Eds.) Spiel-Räume. Das "Spiel" in Diskursen der Kultur und Wissenschaften (2020)

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See detailPlayers' moral decisions in virtual worlds: Morality in video games
Melzer, André; Holl, Elisabeth

Book published by Oxford University Press (2020)

See detailMediennutzung in den Zeiten von Pandemie und Lockdown
Melzer, André; Holl, Elisabeth; Hale, Miriam-Linnea

in Benoy, Charles (Ed.) COVID-19 - Ein Virus nimmt Einfluss auf unsere Psyche. Einschätzungen und Maßnahmen aus psychologischer Perspektive (2020)

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See detailEffects of Emotional Music on Facial Emotion Recognition in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Wagener, Gary; Berning, Madeleine; Pinto Coelho da Costa, Andreia; Steffgen, Georges; Melzer, André

in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2020)

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2019

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See detailEscaping reality through videogames is linked to an implicit preference for virtual over real-life stimuli
Deleuze, Jory; Maurage, Pierre; Schimmenti, Adriano; Nuyens, Filip; Melzer, André; Billieux, Joël

in Journal of Affective Disorders (2019), 245

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See detail“It felt wrong to me to play that way” Understanding moral decision-making in video games through focus group discussions
Holl, Elisabeth; Bernard, Steve; Melzer, André

in Nebel, Steve; Pietschmann, Daniel; Schneider, Sascha; Koban, Kevin; Beege, Maik; Skulmowski, Alexander; Ohler, Peter; Rey, Günter Daniel (Eds.) Proceedings of the Media Psychology Division (2019, September 05)

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See detailWho’s afraid of Donkey Kong? Testing the Stereotype Threat Effect in Video Gaming
Holl, Elisabeth; Wagener, Gary L.; Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2019, May)

See detailMale vs female gamers: Testing the stereotype threat effect in video gaming
Holl, Elisabeth; Wagener, Gary Lee; Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2019, September 17)

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See detailOf princesses, paladins, and player motivations: Gender stereotypes and gendered perceptions in video games
Melzer, André

in Breuer, Johannes; Pietschmann, Daniel; Liebold, Benny; Lange, Benjamin (Eds.) Evolutionary psychology and digital games. Digital hunter-gatherers (2019)

See detailLerneffekte interaktiver Medien bei Kindern und Jugendlichen
Melzer, André; Happ, Christian; Steffgen, Georges

Report (2019)

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2018

See detailDark Souls like "Dark Souls": Personality Characteristics and Preference for Violent Video Games
Melzer, André; Engelberg, Elisabeth

Scientific Conference (2018, May)

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2017

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See detailThe Effects of Sexualized Violence in Video Games on Rape Myth Acceptance
Fernandez de Henestrosa, Martha; Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2017, May)

See detailExposure to Sexualized Pictures Primes Occupational Stereotypes
Melzer, André; Ramsperger, Stephan

Scientific Conference (2017, September 05)

See detailAvatar Sex Moderates Aggression in Violent Video Games, But Only for Women
Melzer, André; Schmidt, Alexander F.

Poster (2017, September 07)

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2016

See detailTrick with Treat – Reciprocity increases the willingness to communicate personal data.
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2016, June)

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See detailTrick with treat – Reciprocity increases the willingness to communicate personal data
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

in Computers in Human Behavior (2016)

See detailGame character appeal in the eye of the beholder: The role of gendered perceptions
Melzer, André; Engelberg, Elisabeth

Scientific Conference (2016, June)

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2015

See detailGendered self-concept: What does it reveal about people’s preference for violent video games?
Engelberg, Elisabeth; Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2015, May 24)

See detailDo moral concerns predict moral memory after playing violent video games?
Melzer, André

Scientific Conference (2015, May 23)

See detailHow to measure aggressive behavior in the lab?
Melzer, André

Presentation (2015, February 02)

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See detailParental Mediation of Children’s Television and Video Game Use in Germany: Active and Embedded in Family Processes
Schaan, Violetta; Melzer, André

in Journal of Children and Media (2015), 9(1), 58-76

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2014

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See detailEmpathy and Violent Video Games: Aggression and Prosocial Behavior
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André

Book published by Palgrave Pivot - Palgrave Studies in Cyberpsychology (2014)

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See detailGewalthaltige Computerspiele
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

in Porsch, T.; Pieschl, S. (Eds.) Neue Medien und deren Schatten (2014)

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See detailLike the Good or Bad Guy—Empathy in antisocial and prosocial games
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

in Psychology of Popular Media Culture (2014)

See detailMediennutzung und Medienwirkung
Melzer, André

in Steffgen, Georges; Michaux, Gilles; Ferring, Dieter (Eds.) Psychologie in Luxemburg. Ein Handuch. (2014)

See detailMoral disengagement, media preferences, and the effects of violent video games
Melzer, André; Happ, Christian; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2014, November)

See detailMoral disengagement as a predictor of violent video game preference
Melzer, André; Happ, Christian; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2014, May)

See detailBachelor académique en Psychologie
Steffgen, Georges; Melzer, André

in Steffgen, Georges; Michaux, Gilles; Ferring, Dieter (Eds.) Psychologie in Luxemburg - Ein Handbuch (2014)

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2013

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See detailSuperman vs. BAD man? - The effects of empathy and game character in violent video games
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2013), 16(10), 774-778

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See detailSpielen mit Gewalt - Gewalt in digitalen Spielen
Melzer, André

in Gudehus, C.; Christ, M. (Eds.) Gewalt. Ein interdisziplinäres Handbuch (2013)

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See detailThe Allure of the Forbidden: Breaking Taboos, Frustration, and Attraction to Violent Video Games
Whitaker, Jodi L.; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges; Bushman, Brad J.

in Psychological Science (2013), 24(4), 507-513

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2012

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See detailMacbeth and the joystick: Evidence for moral cleansing after playing a violent video game
Gollwitzer, Mario; Melzer, André

in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (2012), 48

See detailI love violent media, but it may harm others: Personality factors and attitudes towards violent media
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Dax, Ann-Kathrin; Eichner, Felicitas; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2012, July)

See detailSuperman vs. BAD man? Empathy and game character influence the effects of violent video games
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

Poster (2012, July)

See detailIT Security. An empirical study on the willingness of people to communicate personal data
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Volkert, Lucien R.; Steffgen, Georges

Report (2012)

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See detailXXth ISRA World Meeting 2012 at the University of Luxembourg. Abstract Book
Scientific Program Committee and Organization Committee; Melzer, André

Book published by Université du Luxembourg (2012)

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2011

See detailDo we judge a game by its cover? A comparison of crime descriptions in fictitious video games and newspaper articles
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2011, November)

See detailGreat feelings in small boxes - Empathy as a mitigating factor in video games
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2011, July)

See detailCan you feel the game – How empathy in video games affects behavior
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

Poster (2011, May)

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See detailBringing empathy into play: On the effects of empathy in violent and nonviolent video games
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

in Anacleto, J.L.; Fels, S.; Graham, N.; Kapralos, B.; El-Nasr, M.S.; Stanley, K. (Eds.) Entertainment Computing - ICEC 2011: 10th International Conference, ICEC 2011, Vancouver, BC, Canada, October 5-8, 2011, 6972 (2011)

See detailEmotionale Medienstimuli und die moderierende Rolle von Empathie auf Entscheidungsprozesse
Happ, Christian; Sütterlin, Stefan; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2011, September)

See detailZAP
Melzer, André; Donoso, Véronica

Report (2011)

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See detailAre cyber bullies less empathic? Adolescents' cyber bullying behavior and empathic responsiveness
Steffgen, Georges; Pfetsch, Jan; König, Andreas; Melzer, André

in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2011), 14(11), 643-648

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2010

See detailMedia, violence and prevention: A literature survey. Report of the PREVAMI project
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Steffgen, Georges

Report (2010)

See detailZAP
Melzer, André

Report (2010)

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See detailClick or strike: Realistic versus standard game controls in violent video games and their effects on aggression
Melzer, André; Derks, I.; Heydekorn, J.; Steffgen, Georges

in In H. S. Yang et al. (Eds.), ICEC 2010, LNCS 6243. pp. 171-182. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer (2010)

See detailKinder, Jugendliche und Videospiele: Was Eltern wissen sollten (I) – Videospiele und ihre Wirkung
Melzer, André; Happ, Christian

in Kuck mat wat deng Kanner maachen! (2010)

See detailBesser werben mit Liebe und Hass? Zur Wirkung empathie- und aggressionsbezogener Wörter in einem gewalthaltigen Rennspiel
Melzer, André; Happ, Christian; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2010, September)

See detailEmpathy for the devil? Empathy and prosocial behavior in violent video games
Melzer, André; Happ, Christian; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2010, July)

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See detailViolence for the masses: The impact of violence in electronic mass media
Melzer, André; Happ, Christian; Steffgen, Georges

in Herzog-Evans, Martine (Ed.) Transnational criminology manual (2010)

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See detailAudioworld: A spatial audio tool for acoustic and cognitive learning
Melzer, André; Kindsmüller, M. C.; Herczeg, M.

in In R. Nordahl et al. (Eds.), HAID 2010, LNCS 6306, pp. 46–54. (2010)

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See detailEffects of traditional bullying and empathy on cyberbullying
Steffgen, Georges; Pfetsch, Jan; König, Andreas; Melzer, André

in Proceedings of the XIV European Conference on Developmental Psychology ECDP. (2010)

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2009

See detailWho chooses what in the game store? The relationship between game preferences and dimensions of aggression
Happ, Christian; Melzer, André; Rossi, M.; Steffgen, Georges

Scientific Conference (2009, November)

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See detailIterative design of mobile learning systems for school projects
Melzer, André; Hadley, L.; Glasemann, M.; Günther, S.; Winkler, T.; Herczeg, M.

in Technology, Instruction, Cognition and Learning (2009), 6(4), 235-251

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See detailThe role of empathy for adolescents' cyberbullying behaviour
Steffgen, Georges; König, Andreas; Pfetsch, Jan; Melzer, André

in Kwartalnik Pedagogiczny = Pedagogical Quarterly (2009), 214(4), 183-198

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2008

See detailOnline communities and online community building
Kindsmüller, Martin Christof; Melzer, André; Mentler, Tilo

in Khosrow-Pour, M. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technologie (2008)

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See detailWhen items become victims: Brand memory in violent and nonviolent games
Melzer, André; Bushman, B. J.; Hofmann, U. G.

Scientific journal (2008)

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2007

See detailUsing iterative design and development for mobile learning systems in school projects
Melzer, André; Hadley, L.; Glasemann, M.; Werner, S.; Winkler, T.; Herczeg, M.

in Proceedings of ICEC CELDA 2007 (2007)

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2006

See detailThe mere exposure effect is sensitive to color information: Evidence for color effects in a perceptual implicit memory test
Hupbach, Almut; Melzer, André; Hardt, Oliver

in Experimental Psychology (2006), 53(3), 233-345

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See detailUsing the Moles and the Mini Moles software sytem to bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor learning experiences
Melzer, André; Hadley, L.; Glasemann, M.; Herczeg, M.

in IADIS International Journal on WWW/Internet (2006), 4(2), 48-58

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2005

See detailBubble Caster – a mixed reality children application for interactive shadow play
Winkler, Thomas; Arend, Sonja; Hadley, Lia; Melzer, André; Herczeg, Michael

in Proceedings of IDC 2005, Boulder, Colorado, USA (2005)

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2004

See detailDer interaktive Perspektivenfilm als Hyperfilm auf Video-DVD
Jeskulke, Oliver; Hasse, Sebastian; Melzer, André; Schön, Inga; Herczeg, Michael

in In R. Keil–Slawik, H. Selke, & G. Szwillus (Hrsg.), Mensch und Computer 2004: Allgegenwärtige Interaktion (S. 169-178) (2004)

See detailThe interactive and multi-protagonist film: A hypermovie on DVD
Melzer, André; Hasse, Sebastian; Jeskulke, Oliver; Schön, Inga; Herczeg, Michael

in Rauterberg, M. (Ed.) ICEC2004, LNCS 3166, Eindhoven 1-3 September 2004 (2004)

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2002

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2000

See detailPreparing a cup of tea and writing a letter: Do script-based actions influence the representation of a real environment?
Wagener, Monika; Mecklenbräuker, Silvia; Wippich, Werner; Saathoff, Jörg E.; Melzer, André

in Freksa, C.; Habel, C.; Wender, K.-F. (Eds.) Spatial Cognition II: An interdisciplinary approach to representing and processing spatial knowledge (2000)

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1998

See detailPicture or word superiority effects in implicit memory: levels of processing, attention and retrieval constraints
Wippich, Werner; Melzer, André; Mecklenbräuker, Silvia

in Swiss Journal of Psychology (1998), 51(1), 33-46

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