Audience effects on both performance for a change-detection task and state anxiety

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the audience effects on both performance for a change-detection task and state anxiety. The participants were asked to report on the changing part of alternating images using a mouse cursor and change-detection times were measured. In Experiment 1, participants undertook the change-detection task either alone or with another person standing behind them. The mean change-detection times for the observed condition was significantly longer than for the alone condition. In Experiment 2, participants were observed via a video camera rather than in person. The pattern of change-detection times was similar to Experiment 1, with the means of state anxiety score also being significantly higher for the observed conditions than for the alone conditions. These results suggest that being observed by another person heightens the state anxiety of participants, which may adversely influence visual-attention during change-detection tasks.