Gender, videogames and navigation in virtual space.

Spatial abilities associated with success in educational and occupational fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) have been repeatedly shown to be gendered, with males demonstrating measurably better spatial abilities than females. Less is known about why this is, or about how experience with spatial systems (videogames, for example) affects these abilities. We conducted two experiments with 82 participants with varying degrees of videogame experience on measures of mental rotation, spatial learning, and spatial memory.

Social presence and use of internet-delivered interventions: a multi-method approach.

Objective: Internet-delivered interventions can effectively change health risk behaviors and their determinants, but adherence to intervention websites once they are accessed is very low. This study tests whether and how social presence elements can increase website use.

Methods: A website about Hepatitis A, B, and C virus infections was used in a preparatory lab-based eye-tracking study assessing whether social presence elements attract participants' attention, because this is a prerequisite for affecting website use.