Stokes, Holly (2019) Examining the sensitivity of Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) Sensors and self-report measures in assessing VR-induced affective priming. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) is being increasingly recognised for its methodological advantages within the psychological sciences. This technology is a preferred experimental analogue in affective research as conditions can be purpose built and identically replicated. The present study aims to further examine VR as a method for affective priming; immersing a person into a novel, virtual environment with the goal of inducing a particular affective state. Aligning with a dimensional model of affect, Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) sensors and the Positive And Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) questionnaire were used to attain respective levels of arousal and valence in 68 participants randomly assigned to either a horror or mindfulness VR condition. It was hypothesised that those in the horror condition would produce increases in arousal and negative valence, while those in the mindfulness condition would produce decreases in arousal and increases in positive valence. Findings showed only the mindfulness condition produced a significant result. Participants’ arousal levels decreased, however in contradiction to the hypothesis, their positive valence also decreased. These results may benefit future studies needing to elicit specific affective states in their participants prior to assessing their cognitive or behavioural performance on a particular task.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Michael Ireland |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Nov 2025 00:50 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Nov 2025 00:50 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | virtual reality; galvanic skin response; PANAS; dimensional model of affect; arousal; valence; affect; affective priming |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52790 |
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