Voluntary control of skin temperature: role of experimenter presence versus absence.
The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether the physical presence of an experimenter affects biofeedback performance according to social facilitation predictions. A 2(experimenter: presence vs. absence) X 2(task directionality: increase vs. decrease) design was employed. It was hypothesized that the presence of an experimenter would hinder the acquiring of skin temperature control in a biofeedback task. Fifty-three subjects were randomly assigned to the four experimental conditions. The results were compatible with social facilitation predictions, i.e., experimenter presence hindered performance.
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D006801:Humans; D012881:Skin Temperature; D012931:Social Environment; D012932:Social Facilitation