Wpływ bodźców przestrzennych na reakcje organizmu. Refleksje z wykorzystania bioczujników do badania warszawskiej przestrzeni publicznej

Abstract

In the study of emotions associated with staying in a specific space, in addition to the subjective approach based on describing one’s feelings caused by the environment, an objective approach is also used, using ambulatory sensors to measure the body’s reaction to external stimuli. The aim of the article is, on the one hand, to formulate guidelines regarding the methodology of using electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors in public space research, and, on the other hand, to indicate the practical application of this type of research. The device was tested during a walk along the Krakowskie Przedmieście Street in Warsaw. The study confirmed that the effect of measurements using biosensors is not so much an objectively identified cause-and-effect relationship between a stimulus and a specific reaction of the body, but an in-depth reflection on the way we experience the space. Due to the multitude of stimuli coming from the environment and the individual emotional, as well as mental state of each person, biosensors are currently a better solution for static research in microspace. However, geographers should continue rigorous research on whether and how these devices should be used in field research, how to standardize the conditions under which recordings are made, and how to standardize measurement methodology and participant selection.