Demand Characteristics of a Questionnaire Used to Assess Motion Sickness in a Virtual Environment

The experience of motion sickness in a virtual environment may be measured through pre- and post-experiment self-reported questionnaires such as the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Although research provides converging evidence that users of virtual environments can experience motion sickness, there have been no controlled studies to determine to what extent the user’s subjective response is a demand characteristic resulting from pre- and post-test measures. In this study, subjects were given either SSQ’s both pre and post virtual environment immersion, or only post immersion. This technique was used to test for contrast effects due to demand characteristics in which administration of the questionnaire itself suggests to the participant that the virtual environment may produce motion sickness. Results indicate that reports of motion sickness after immersion in a virtual environment are much greater when both pre and post questionnaires are given than when only a post test questionnaire is used. The implications for assessments of motion sickness in virtual environments are discussed.