Sensor-based Measurement of Physiological Response to Test Anxiety
- Conference
- Location
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Portland, Oregon
- Publication Date
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June 23, 2024
- Start Date
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June 23, 2024
- End Date
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July 12, 2024
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Industrial Engineering Division (IND)
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/47962
Paper Authors
Sara Amani Texas A&M University
Sara Amani is currently a Ph.D. student in the Multidisciplinary Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. She has received her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University at Qatar. Her research interests include broadening participation in STEM, and inclusivity in engineering education, particularly in context of student mental health.
Dianna Morganti Texas A&M University
Prof. Dianna Morganti is an Instructional Associate Professor at Texas A&M University teaching research-informed writing and publication practices to PhD students throughout the College of Engineering. She brings a focus on information literacy to the critical review of scholarly communication practices in the classroom.
Kristi J. Shryock Texas A&M University
Dr. Kristi J. Shryock is the Frank and Jean Raymond Foundation Inc. Endowed Associate Professor in Multidisciplinary Engineering and Affiliated Faculty in Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. She also serves as Director of the Craig and Galen Brown Engineering Honors Program. She received her BS, MS, and PhD from the College of Engineering at Texas A&M. Kristi works to improve the undergraduate engineering experience through evaluating preparation in areas, such as mathematics and physics, evaluating engineering identity and its impact on retention, incorporating non-traditional teaching methods into the classroom, and engaging her students with interactive methods.
Lance Leon Allen White
Texas A&M University
orcid.org/0000-0002-1172-0500
Lance White is a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University in Interdisciplinary Engineering with a thrust in Engineering Education. He is working as a graduate research assistant at the Institute of Engineering Education and Innovation at the Texas Engineerin
Abstract
Test anxiety is a prevalent psychological issue among higher-education students, particularly those seeking degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) [1]. Test anxiety is an adverse emotional reaction when faced with a testing circumstance or comparable evaluative atmosphere. Numerous studies on the impact of test anxiety on STEM students' academic performance have been undertaken. Understanding the complex link between test anxiety and academic achievement is critical for developing evidence-based solutions to help students succeed in STEM fields. Despite substantial research on college students' test anxiety, there are major gaps in the literature, particularly in the context of engineering education.
Biometric data can give valuable insights into the physiological responses to test anxiety, influencing the creation of more effective therapies to help students cope with this issue. By measuring physiological signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance, researchers may acquire a more objective and nuanced knowledge of the link between test anxiety and academic success. This study's proposed research question is "What types of sensors have been found to be most effective in measuring physiological data related to anxiety for research purposes?". This study aims to identify the best biometric sensors for collecting data on engineering students' physiological markers of test anxiety based on a narrative literature review. Preliminary research shows a dearth of data linking physiological data to test anxiety specifically, so this review expands its search to anxiety in general context. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted as part of the research to identify the types of sensors used in prior studies on test anxiety and to assess their usefulness for measuring physiological responses to anxiety. It was found that heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) are two of the most common biometric markers used to indicate test anxiety in previous studies.
Other sensors reported in literature include electrodermal sensors, blood oxygen saturation sensors, and thermal biomarkers; however, there are less studies published using these sensors. There is much room for improvement when using sensors to measure physiological response, as accuracy levels are still not high enough for these sensory readings to be individually used for a comprehensive assessment. Typically, multiple physiological responses must be used in conjunction to achieve acceptable confidence in readings, and research is still underway to identify sensors to measure physiological responses that can uniquely identify fluctuations in anxiety. Ultimately, understanding the impact of test anxiety and its induced physiological effects on students can provide educators with more knowledge and insights on how to further improve delivery of and assessment in engineering education.
Amani, S., & Morganti, D., & Shryock, K. J., & White, L. L. A. (2024, June), Sensor-based Measurement of Physiological Response to Test Anxiety Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47962
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