Voluntary control of skin temperature: role of experimenter presence versus absence

The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether the physical presence of an experimenter affects biofeedback performance according to social facilitation predictions. A 2(experimenter: presence vs. absence) X 2(task directionality: increase vs. decrease) design was employed. It was hypothesized that the presence of an experimenter would hinder the acquiring of skin temperature control in a biofeedback task. Fifty-three subjects were randomly assigned to the four experimental conditions. The results were compatible with social facilitation predictions, i.e., experimenter presence hindered performance.