The study by Nguyen and Canny (2007) explores how preserving eye contact in group video chats impacts intergroup trust during collaborative tasks.
Research Context
With the increasing reliance on video communication, understanding how to maintain trust in virtual settings is vital. Nguyen and Canny investigated whether preserving eye contact in group video chats could facilitate intergroup trust similarly to face-to-face interactions.
Methodology
- Participants: 169 participants were recruited from the Experimental Social Science Laboratory (XLab) at UC Berkeley (University of California, Berkeley). Participants included university-affiliated students and staff members, forming 29 groups of 2 and 37 groups of 3.
- Experimental Design: The study involved three conditions:
- Face-to-Face: Groups met in the same room, sitting 8 feet apart.
- Directional Video Conferencing: Groups used the MultiView system, preserving spatial relationships and eye contact.
- Non-Directional Video Conferencing: Groups used a conventional video conferencing setup with spatial distortions.
3. Data Collection: Trust levels were measured using a modified version of the Daytrader game, which involves cooperative and competitive investment decisions.
Key Findings
- Overall Cooperative Investment: Groups using directional video conferencing showed higher levels of cooperative investment compared to those using non-directional video conferencing.
- Trust Formation: Groups in the directional video conferencing condition exhibited trust levels comparable to those in face-to-face meetings.
- Fragility of Trust: Trust in groups using directional video conferencing was more resilient to breakdowns compared to those using non-directional video conferencing.
Impact
- Professional Settings: In business environments, preserving eye contact in virtual meetings can enhance trust and collaboration among team members.
- Educational Settings: Students or teachers in virtual classrooms and online video calls can benefit from technologies such as the iContact Camera that facilitate eye contact, improving cooperation and trust.
- Remote Work: Remote teams can maintain high levels of trust and productivity by incorporating tools that preserve eye contact in video communications.
Conclusion
Nguyen and Canny's study demonstrates that preserving eye contact in group video chats significantly facilitates intergroup trust, making virtual interactions nearly as effective as face-to-face communications. These insights highlight the importance of eye contact in enhancing virtual collaboration and trust.
References
Nguyen, D. T., & Canny, J. (2007). Multiview: Improving Trust in Group Video Conferencing through Spatial Faithfulness.
