A description and analysis of the operation and validity of the psychological stress evaluator

Abstract

A detailed description and analysis are presented of the psychological stress evaluator (PSE), an instrument purported to measure accurately and to portray graphically differential levels of stress in human speech. In addition, two studies are presented that attempt to validate this instrument against better known measures of stress or A-state anxiety. The PSE measures were compared with heart rate and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) A-state scores obtained under conditions where the level of stress was experimentally manipulated through threat of shock or the presentation of taboo words. The first study revealed that PSE, STAI, and heart rate measures accurately reflect different levels of stress and are significantly correlated with one another. The second study failed to replicate the validity of the PSE. This failure to replicate is attributed to lower levels of induced stress and a reduction in baseline measures of stress.