Computer-Based Interviewing System Dealing with Nonverbal Behavior as well as Keyboard Responses

Abstract

A digital computer has been programmed to conduct a medical interview while simultaneously monitoring the heart rate and keyboard response latency of the respondent for each question frame. The program can branch to new frames contingent upon the heart rate and response latency values, as well as the keyboard responses, and thus alter the course of the interview on the basis of this nonverbal information. The program is presented as a technique for studying the use of nonverbal respondent behavior in automated, clinical interviews.