Dr. Jonali Baruah, a professor of psychological sciences at Tarleton State University, has received a $419,534 research grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to gain a better understanding of the effects of extended exposure to virtual meetings.
The ultimate goal is to create a computational tool that utilizes machine learning techniques to predict fatigue and performance by providing real-time feedback for meeting organizers and participants.
“Currently, video-based meetings are widely used in both organizations and educational institutions,” said Dr. Baruah. “However, it remains unclear whether these meetings are as effective as face-to-face interactions. This research will examine the physiological responses of attendees and explore the impact of prolonged virtual meetings on Zoom fatigue and anxiety.”
This is the second federal grant that Dr. Baruah has received to conduct research on the effects of video-based meetings on cognitive performance. This new research sponsored by NIH will focus more on the long-term impact of such exposure on mental health and overall productivity in creative thinking, problem-solving and decision-making in virtual group interactions.
