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Measuring presence with verbal versus pictorial scales: a comparison between online- and ex post-ratings

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Abstract

In this study, we compare subjective online- and post-immersion measures. Although its relevance appears obvious from a theoretical and applied research perspective, this question has not yet been addressed in previous studies. In addition, we also compare verbally and pictorially anchored scales. These factors were measured in different contents using a 2 × 2 × 2 design. We manipulated time of measure (online vs. ex post), type of measure (verbal vs. visual), and content (language vs. language-free). Participants (N = 162) evaluated two video clips in terms of presence. No differences between averaged online- and post-immersion measures were found and online judgments did not interfere with the sensation of presence. In line with findings from other areas of research, the use of pictorially anchored items has major advantages. Our results suggest that those items require less mental workload and assess the sensation of presence more directly than verbally anchored items. We discuss the theoretical implications of our findings.

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Correspondence to Bartholomäus Wissmath.

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Wissmath, B., Weibel, D. & Mast, F.W. Measuring presence with verbal versus pictorial scales: a comparison between online- and ex post-ratings. Virtual Reality 14, 43–53 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-009-0127-0

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