Predictors of the Sense of Presence in an Immersive Audio Storytelling Experience, a Mixed Methods Study. PREPRINT

Abstract: This study examined which variables predicted the sense of presence (being there) in an immersive audio experience, with a focus on the impacts of immersion technology (headphones with spatialised sound versus speaker with 2D stereo sound), the nature of the audio experience, the narrative content, participants emotional and cognitive engagement and personal characteristics such as age and gender. Museum visitors listened to a story on the One Story, Many Voices immersive audio installation. A convergent mixed-methods design was used, including multiple regression analysis of survey data (n 185) and relational analysis of interview data (n 9). This study found mixed methods support from both surveys and interviews to suggest that presence was predicted by the audio quality (especially the audio being perceived as different from other audio stories they had listened to in the past), cognitive engagement (especially being totally absorbed), the narrative (the story and how it was told) and some support was found for emotional engagement (especially feeling a connection with the storyteller). Effects of the environment and immersion technology on presence received only either quantitative or qualitative support. No influences of personal characteristics were found. Findings are relevant for academics, immersive experience (XR) commissioners and developers.