2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Public Speaking Phobia Reduction for Japanese University Students through Virtual Reality-based Training and Exposure to Simulated Audiences
| Project/Area Number |
19K13266
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| Research Institution | Aichi Prefectural University |
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Principal Investigator |
ブルノティ ジョシュ 愛知県立大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 准教授 (50816105)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | virtual reality / exposure therapy / public speaking anxiety / mindfulness / CBT |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
All materials creation and ethics review procedures for the third year of this program were completed during the spring and summer of 2021. Similarly to 2020, all contact with participants was moved online. Participant recruitment and data collection were done in the fall of 2021. The third year of this study used the same methodology as the second, with the goal of adding more participants to the second phase of the program. Many parts of the methodology have continued since year one of the study, including: 1. psycho-education about anxiety, panic, and cognitive distortions, 2. use of exposure training for speech acts using imaginal and virtual reality-based training, 3. mindfulness training, and 4. presentation skills training. The significant anxiety reduction related to public speaking was replicated in the third year, supporting similar findings from the first and second years of the program. Participant interviews also replicated many of the same findings from year two, although the ratio of positive comments related to VR-based presentation practice versus imagination-based presentation practice shifted. Similar to the first and second years, a lack of difference between the imaginal practice group and virtual reality group was found, as both groups reduced their anxiety to similar, significant degrees. This finding has remained consistent throughout the program, and demonstrates that instructors may find success in reducing student presentation anxiety using technological and non-technological means.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
This research is progressing more or less at the pace that was planned within the initial research proposal, however a one-year extension was requested for 2022 that would allow for the addition of a control group to the second phase of the study. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing the program to shift from an in-person to an online format in 2020 and 2021, this was shift was handled rather smoothly due to the researcher's familiarity with Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and the hard work of the host institution in helping the researcher supply required equipment to the participants (e.g. VR headsets) in a safe manner. The third year of data collection was successful despite these hurdles, and in fact demonstrated that public speaking anxiety reduction programs such as this may be done online with successful results. Data analysis for the results of the second year of the program have now been completed, with results from the third year of the study being currently analyzed and translated. At this pace, the final year of the study should be able to begin on time with control group participants being recruited in the spring of 2022.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In the extended, final year of this program (academic year 2022), analysis of the data from year three will continue, and the extensive translation work related to participants' written responses, feedback, and work related to the program will be completed. In addition, a control group will be recruited in 2022 in which participants will provide responses for the quantitative measurements given to the experimental groups, but will not participate in the skills development and anxiety-reduction program done by the other participants. Results from the second phase of the study (2020-2021) will be compared against the results of this control group.
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| Causes of Carryover |
During 2021, travel expenses were not incurred due to the shift to online formats for the academic conferences attended by the researcher. Therefore all funds in 2021 were used toward compensation for program participants. In the extended, final year of the program (2022), funds will be used to hire professional translators to assist with the extensive translation work associated with the study. Some funds may also be used toward compensation for participants in the control group phase of the study.
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