Trace: A Research Media Player Measuring Real-Time Audience Engagement

Ana Levordashka; Mike Richardson; Rebecca J. Hirst; Iain D. Gilchrist; Danae Stanton Fraser

doi:10.3758/s13428-024-02522-0

Trace: A Research Media Player Measuring Real-Time Audience Engagement

Ana Levordashka, Mike Richardson, Rebecca J. Hirst, Iain D. Gilchrist, Danae Stanton Fraser

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Measuring attention and engagement is essential for understanding a wide range of psychological phenomena. Advances in technology have made it possible to measure real-time attention to naturalistic stimuli, providing ecologically valid insight into temporal dynamics. We developed a research protocol called Trace, which records anonymous facial landmarks, expressions, and patterns of movement associated with engagement in screen-based media. Trace runs in a standard internet browser and resembles a contemporary media player. It is embedded in the open-source package PsychoJS (the JavaScript sister library of PsychoPy) hosted via Pavlovia, and can be integrated with a wide range of behavioral research methods. Developed over multiple iterations and tested with over 200 participants in three studies, including the official broadcast of a major theatre production, Trace is a powerful, user-friendly protocol allowing behavioral researchers to capture audience attention and engagement in screen-based media as part of authentic, ecologically valid audience experiences.

Original language	English
Article number	44
Journal	Behavior Research Methods
Volume	57
Issue number	1
Early online date	6 Jan 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-024-02522-0
Publication status	Published - 6 Jan 2025

Data Availability Statement

This paper does not constitute a primary report of any studies or associated data.

Funding

This work was supported by Bristol and Bath Creative R&D, funded by the United Kingdom Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Creative Industries Cluster Programme (AH/S002936/1). For more information on the project and its partners, visit our website at https://bristolbathcreative.org/. Support was also received by the United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Strength in Places Fund (SIPF00006/1).

Keywords

Attention
Audiences
Engagement
Face tracking
Research application

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Psychology (miscellaneous)
General Psychology

Access to Document

10.3758/s13428-024-02522-0Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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Trace: A Research Media Player Measuring Real-Time Audience Engagement

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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