Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life
Abstract Public speaking is a challenging task that requires practice. Virtual Reality allows to present realistic public speaking scenarios in this regard, however, the role of the virtual audience during practice remains unknown. In the present study, 73 participants completed a Virtual Reality pr...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41155-9 |
| _version_ | 1797452679832666112 |
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| author | Leon O. H. Kroczek Andreas Mühlberger |
| author_facet | Leon O. H. Kroczek Andreas Mühlberger |
| author_sort | Leon O. H. Kroczek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Public speaking is a challenging task that requires practice. Virtual Reality allows to present realistic public speaking scenarios in this regard, however, the role of the virtual audience during practice remains unknown. In the present study, 73 participants completed a Virtual Reality practice session while audience was manipulated to be supportive or unsupportive or presentations were practiced without audience. Importantly, following the virtual practice, participants held the presentation during a real university course via Zoom. We measured emotional experience, self-efficacy, and the subjective evaluation of performance at baseline, after VR practice, and after the real presentation. Additionally, participants’ performance in the real presentation was evaluated by instructors (blinded to condition). Supportive in contrast to unsupportive audiences led to more positive believes about one’s own performance, while there were no changes in beliefs in the group without audience. Importantly, practice in front of a supportive compared to unsupportive audience resulted in a more positive evaluation of speaker confidence in real-life public speaking as rated by the instructors. These results demonstrate an impact of virtual social feedback during public speaking on subsequent subjective performance evaluation. This may increase self-confidence resulting in actual improved public speaking performance in real-life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:12:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d147be72790e4a6ea01e6180ed6487d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:12:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d147be72790e4a6ea01e6180ed6487d72023-11-26T13:21:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-08-0113111110.1038/s41598-023-41155-9Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-lifeLeon O. H. Kroczek0Andreas Mühlberger1Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgAbstract Public speaking is a challenging task that requires practice. Virtual Reality allows to present realistic public speaking scenarios in this regard, however, the role of the virtual audience during practice remains unknown. In the present study, 73 participants completed a Virtual Reality practice session while audience was manipulated to be supportive or unsupportive or presentations were practiced without audience. Importantly, following the virtual practice, participants held the presentation during a real university course via Zoom. We measured emotional experience, self-efficacy, and the subjective evaluation of performance at baseline, after VR practice, and after the real presentation. Additionally, participants’ performance in the real presentation was evaluated by instructors (blinded to condition). Supportive in contrast to unsupportive audiences led to more positive believes about one’s own performance, while there were no changes in beliefs in the group without audience. Importantly, practice in front of a supportive compared to unsupportive audience resulted in a more positive evaluation of speaker confidence in real-life public speaking as rated by the instructors. These results demonstrate an impact of virtual social feedback during public speaking on subsequent subjective performance evaluation. This may increase self-confidence resulting in actual improved public speaking performance in real-life.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41155-9 |
| spellingShingle | Leon O. H. Kroczek Andreas Mühlberger Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life Scientific Reports |
| title | Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life |
| title_full | Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life |
| title_fullStr | Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life |
| title_short | Public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in Virtual Reality improves performance in real-life |
| title_sort | public speaking training in front of a supportive audience in virtual reality improves performance in real life |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41155-9 |
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