"Psyosphere": A GPS Data-Analysing Tool for the Behavioural Sciences.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Psychology
• Computer Science

Background:

• Positioning technologies like GPS are underutilized in behavioral science due to data processing challenges.
• There is a need for accessible tools to leverage GPS data for behavioral research outside laboratory settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate psyosphere, an open-source software tool for analyzing GPS tracks in behavioral science.
• To demonstrate the utility of GPS-derived behavioral variables in understanding psychological states.

Main Methods:

• Developed and tested psyosphere, an open-source tool for extracting behavioral insights from GPS data.
• Conducted two field experiments where participants played a smuggling game.
• Collected GPS track data and self-reported mental states.

Main Results:

• Participants exhibited significant variations in movement patterns (course, speed, team proximity) when interacting with simulated border guards.
• GPS-derived behavioral variables correlated with self-reported psychological states, such as fear.
• The psyosphere tool successfully extracted relevant behavioral data from GPS tracks.

Conclusions:

• Psyosphere offers a viable method for conducting behavioral experiments using positioning technology in naturalistic environments.
• The tool facilitates the link between objective GPS-derived behaviors and subjective psychological experiences.
• Further research is warranted to expand the application of psyosphere in behavioral science.