Galvanic skin responses from asking stressful questions.
1University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire Rural Stress Network.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|June 20, 2007
Summary
Challenging interview questions can induce stress in interviewers, as evidenced by galvanic skin response monitors. Interviewers experienced stress when asking their own challenging questions, but not when asking the same questions to respondents.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Occupational Health
- Human Resources
Background:
- Interviewer stress is a significant factor in interview quality.
- Understanding the physiological impact of challenging questions on interviewers is crucial for effective communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological stress responses of interviewers when posing challenging questions.
- To differentiate between interviewer stress and interviewee responses to challenging questions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized unobtrusive galvanic skin response (GSR) monitors to measure stress.
- Employed a convenience sample of 40 health and social care professionals.
- Calibrated GSR data using heart rate and finger temperature monitors.
Main Results:
- 80% of interviewers exhibited measurable stress responses when asking self-designed challenging questions.
- No significant stress responses were observed in respondents when asked the same challenging questions.
- Galvanic skin response monitoring provided accurate stress indicators.
Conclusions:
- Asking challenging questions, particularly self-generated ones, can induce significant stress in interviewers.
- The study highlights the physiological toll of demanding interview scenarios on professionals.
- Further research could explore stress mitigation strategies for interviewers.
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