Enhanced perception of risk in a driving simulator. (20th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walker, Francesco; Hauslbauer, Andrea L.; Preciado, Daniel; Martens, Marieke H.; Verwey, Willem B.
• Is Part Of: International journal of human factors modelling and simulation. Volume 7:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2020-02-20
• Subjects: simulated driving -- driving simulator -- sense of presence -- ecological validity -- behavioural validity -- risk perception -- human factors -- shock paradigm -- mid-level simulator -- driving behaviour -- presence -- fear conditioning -- virtual environments -- virtual reality; Human-computer interaction -- Periodicals; Human-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-5549

Abstract

One major concern with driving simulator studies is the lack of perceived risk for participants. This has led some authors to question the behavioural validity of simulator-based research. In this study, we investigated this concern by compensating for the possible perceived absence of risk with an anxiety-inducing risk factor: Participants were told that if they had a collision, they would receive a mild electric shock. We hypothesised that the addition of the new risk factor would increase participants' 'sense of presence' - the feeling of truly being and belonging in the virtual environment. We also analysed their driving behaviour, physiology, anxiety, and workload. Overall, we observed very few differences between the threat and the control group: Both reported a strong sense of presence. This suggests that, even without the risk of physical harm, mid-level driving simulators already elicit a strong sense of presence and that the 'lack of physical crash risk' is unlikely to affect study results.