EAGER: The Effect of Stress and the Role of Computer Mediation on Exam Performance

EAGER：压力的影响和计算机调解对考试成绩的作用

• 批准号: 1249208
• 负责人: Ioannis Pavlidis
• 金额: $ 19.32万
• 依托单位: University of Houston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-01 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1249208&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; Effect; Stress; Role; Computer

In this project the PI will explore a novel experimental and methodological framework for measuring and understanding the role of stress in student performance on exams. Stress is defined here as sympathetic arousal, an ever-present mechanism that helps humans cope with perceived threats or challenges. The planned experiments, in which criticality and computer-mediation define the two axes of the experimental space, will cover a rich set of combinations that include bi-weekly exams each of which counts for a small percentage of the grade vs. midterm and final exams that each count for a large percentage of the grade, alternately offered in paper and iPad forms. Subjects will be randomly divided into control and interventional groups; in the interventional group the time will be relaxed, to determine the effect of stress reduction on the evolution of competency. Unobtrusive measurements (to ensure non-interference with the observed behaviors) will span the genetic, physiological and psychological levels, while micro to macro measurements will afford a deep understanding of the issues. While most HCI-related projects aim to change the design of the interface, this research instead investigates the possibility of "changing" the human (student) by revolutionizing relevant aspects of the educational system. Improving the human-computer interface is a secondary aim where, depending upon the success of the intervention, stress-reduction designs can be conceived to counter-balance the time stressor.Broader Impacts: This research tries to identify and suggest ways to correct problems in paper- vs. computer-mediated exams, precipitated by strong sympathetic responses. To this end the PI explores the role of the time stressor, and in so doing questions certain aspects of the prevailing educational philosophy.

在这个项目中，PI将探索一种新的实验和方法框架，以衡量和理解压力在学生考试表现中的作用。压力在这里被定义为共鸣唤醒，一种帮助人类应对感知到的威胁或挑战的无处不在的机制。计划中的实验将包括一系列丰富的组合，其中包括两周一次的考试和期中和期末考试，其中每周考试占成绩的一小部分，期中考试和期末考试占成绩的很大比例，交替以纸质和iPad的形式提供。研究对象将被试随机分为对照组和干预组，干预组放松时间，确定减压对胜任力演变的影响。不显眼的测量(确保不干扰观察到的行为)将跨越遗传、生理和心理层面，而微观和宏观测量将提供对问题的深入理解。虽然大多数与人机界面相关的项目旨在改变界面的设计，但这项研究却调查了通过彻底改变教育系统的相关方面来“改变”人(学生)的可能性。改善人机界面是第二个目标，根据干预的成功程度，可以构思减压设计来抵消时间压力。更广泛的影响：这项研究试图找出并建议在纸质与计算机中介的考试中纠正问题的方法，这些问题是由强烈的共鸣反应引发的。为此，PI探索了时间压力源的作用，并在这样做的过程中质疑了主流教育理念的某些方面。