Computer-Supported Work in Partially Distributed and Co-located Teams: The Influence of Mood Feedback

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines the influence of mood feedback on different outcomes of teamwork in two different collaborative work environments. Employing a 2 x 2 between-subjects design, mood feedback (present vs. not present) and communication mode (face-to-face vs. video conferencing) were manipulated experimentally. We used a newly developed collaborative communication environment, called EmotiBoard, which is a large vertical interactive screen, with which team members can interact in a face-to-face discussion or as a spatially distributed team. To support teamwork, this tool provides visual feedback of each team member's emotional state. Thirty-five teams comprising 3 persons each (with a confederate in each team) completed three different tasks, measuring mood, performance, subjective workload, and team satisfaction. Results indicated that the evaluation of the other team members' emotional state was more accurate when the mood feedback was presented. In addition, mood feedback influenced team performance positively in the video conference condition and negatively in the face-to-face condition. Furthermore, participants in the video conference condition were more satisfied after task completion than participants in the face-to-face condition. Findings indicate that the mood feedback tool is helpful for teams to gain a more accurate understanding of team members' emotional states in different work situations.

On the Influence of Emotional Feedback on Emotion Awareness and Gaze Behavior

“…Even though haptic systems can reduce sadness emotion and general negative mood significantly in remote interaction [12], they are more intrusive and less easy to use compared to a visual feedback display. For example, Sánchez et al have shown that it is possible to improve existing functionality of an instant messaging system for conveying emotion, as we did in a preliminary study for videoconferencing [5].…”

“…Several strategies can be used for enhancing remote interaction through an emotion feedback, using different communication medium, e.g., visual displays [5], [10], taste and smell [11], or touch [12]. Even though haptic systems can reduce sadness emotion and general negative mood significantly in remote interaction [12], they are more intrusive and less easy to use compared to a visual feedback display.…”

“…This tool aims to reduce the emotion awareness's gap between collaborators, by providing an emotion feedback based on real-time automatic emotion recognizers. A preliminary study on the EmotiBoard has shown that the evaluation of the other team members' emotional state is more accurate when a mood feedback is presented, using self-reported data [5].…”

Identifying recommendation opportunities for computer‐supported collaborative environments

“…However, to our knowledge, more attention should be paid on understanding the role of affective and social factors when learning collaboratively online, and there is still a need for further development of methodological approaches. The Self-Assessment Manikins (SAM) (Bradley, 1994) is usually used to evaluate the influence of an emotion representation as a tool in different collaborative environments (Sonderegger et al, 2013). Moreover, personality traits also play a key role in collaborative scenarios (Solimeno et al, 2008).…”

Human Work Interaction Design: An Overview

“…The influence of mood feedback. Sonderegger et al (2013) offer experiences that examine the influence of mood feedback on different outcomes of teamwork in two different collaborative work environments. The authors present a new collaborative communication environment, using an avatar, which provides visual feedback of each team member's emotional state to support teamwork.…”