A multi-method study of anxiety

Abstract

Study one used the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to record subjective perception of anxiety. In order to measure attentional bias two methodologies were used concurrently. A computer-administered emotional Stroop was used which tested participants' attention to physical and social threat words, both when presented subliminally and supraliminally. A picture dot probe technique directly measured attention to and avoidance of severe and moderately threatening pictures (taken from the IAPS). 40 undergraduate participants attended two sessions two weeks apart in a test-retest design. No significant attentional bias effects were found.

Study two employed the same design as study one with an additional dependant variable of electrodermal activity (EDA). No significant attentional bias effects were found.

Study three investigated the source of negative findings on the cognitive measures further by using a sample of 33 non-student participants and comparing the convergent validity of a paper version and a computer version of the Stroop task used in studies one and two. Again, no significant attentional bias effects were found with either the computer or paper version.

The effect of elevation of state anxiety was investigated in study four by testing 43 undergraduate participants two months and one week prior to their final exams. Even in the high state situation, one week before exams, there was no evidence of attentional bias.

The lack of physiological effects were explained with reference to the literature which indicated that the effects were often elusive, particularly when only one dependent physiological measure was used. The lack of attentional bias effects were explained by re-analysis of the existing literature.

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