Rabindra A. Ratan
Self-Presence Standardized:
Introducing the Self-Presence
Questionnaire (SPQ)
Rabindra Ayyan Ratan, University of Southern California
Béatrice Hasler, University of Zurich
Rabindra A. Ratan
Overview
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Why Self-Presence?
Holistic Self
Self-Presence, Defined
Self-Presence Questionnaire (SPQ)
Reliability and Validity Tests
The Future (i.e., plea for your use)
Rabindra A. Ratan
Self Representation and the Self
Rabindra A. Ratan
The Holistic Self
Rabindra A. Ratan
Self-Presence, broadly defined
the extent to which the holistic self is relevant during media use.
Note: mediated self not necessarily
digital, but digital mediated self is the
focus at this early stage of the theory
Rabindra A. Ratan
Specific definitions
• Proto self-presence is defined as “the extent to
which a mediated self-representation is integrated
into body schema.”
• Core self-presence is defined as “the extent to
which mediated interactions between a selfrepresentation and mediated objects cause
emotional responses.”
• Extended self-presence is defined as “the extent to
which some aspect of a self-representation is
related to some aspect of personal identity.”
Rabindra A. Ratan
Self-Presence Questionnaire
Example Proto self-presence Questions:
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When using your avatar, to what extent do you feel
like your arm is elongated into the game/virtual
environment?
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When playing the game/using the virtual
environment, how much do you feel your avatar is
a part of your body?
Proto self-presence is defined as “the extent to which a mediated selfrepresentation is integrated into body schema.”
Rabindra A. Ratan
Self-Presence Questionnaire
Example Core self-presence Questions:
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When happy events happen to your avatar, to what
extent do you feel happy?
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When scary events happen to your avatar, to what
extent do you feel scared?
Core self-presence is defined as “the extent to which mediated interactions
between a self-representation and mediated objects cause emotional
responses.”
Rabindra A. Ratan
Self-Presence Questionnaire
Example Extended self-presence Questions (note changed from pilot study to full study):
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To what extent is your avatar’s appearance related
to some aspect of your identity?
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To what extent is your avatar’s race related to some
aspect of your personal identity?
Extended self-presence is defined as “the extent to which some aspect of
a self-representation is related to some aspect of personal identity.”
Rabindra A. Ratan
Reliability Test
• Pilot study (N = 31) – student groups in a virtual world
• Full Study (N = 360) – email survey to online gamers
• Factor Analysis (both studies)
– 3 distinct factors aligned with 3 levels in the theory
• Correlation Analysis (both studies)
– Each factor significantly correlated (~.4) with the
other two, as the holistic nature of self suggests.
Rabindra A. Ratan
Validity Tests
• (pilot study) Extended
self-presence correlated with
– avatar design time
• Consistent with the theory
– Note: measure changed from pilot to full study
• Proto and Core self-presence correlated with
– (pilot) Appreciation of virtual world experience
• Positive finding, not strong validity check though
– (pilot and full study) Social presence
• Explained by individual diffs in media richness experience
• Validates theory.
Rabindra A. Ratan
Validity Tests
• (full study) MMO players compared to FPS players
– Higher extended self-presence
• More social, identity-relevant – validates theory
– Higher core self-presence
• Wider range of activities and thus emotions – validates theory
– Lower proto self-presence
• Slower-paced, less reliance on reaction time – validates theory
Rabindra A. Ratan
Future Validity Tests
• Proto self-presence
– Natural vs symbolic interfaces
• Core self-presence
– Emotional (physio) response vs avatar relevancy
• Extended self-presence
– Character identification
– Avatar design effort (# of words/button clicks)
Rabindra A. Ratan
Future Application
• Any study with a mediated self-representation
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Proteus Effect (Yee, et al., 2009)
Health-related behaviors (Fox, et al., 2009)
Racial bias (Groom, et al., 2009)
Gender-related activities in MMOs (Yee, et al., 2007)
Feelings of interactivity (Jin, 2009)
Multitasking performance (Ratan, et al., 2007)
And of course, PRESENCE!! (Weibel, Wissmath, Habegger, Steiner,&
Groner, 2008)
• Please consider applying self-presence to your work
– Check www.self-presence.com for the most recent SPQ
Rabindra A. Ratan
Future Self
Increasing use, blurring the line between physical and mediated self
Thank you!