Acceptability of Virtual Characters as a Social Skills Trainer: Usability Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroki Tanaka ◽  
Satoshi Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Skills Training ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Social Self ◽  
Virtual Agent ◽  
Agent Design ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND Social skills training by human trainers is a well-established method to obtain appropriate social interaction skills and strengthen social self-efficacy. Our previous works automated social skills training by developing a virtual agent that teaches social skills through interaction. This study attempts to investigate the effect of virtual agent design on automated social skills training. However previous works have not investigated virtual agent design for virtual social skills trainers. OBJECTIVE The three main purposes of this research are summarized: to investigate virtual agent appearance for automated SST, to investigate the relationship between acceptability and other measures (likeability, acceptability, realism, and familiarity), and to investigate the relationship between likeability and an individual’s characteristics (gender, age, and autistic traits). METHODS We prepared images and videos of a virtual agent, and 1,218 crowdsourced workers rated the virtual agents through a questionnaire. In designing personalized virtual agents, we investigated the acceptability, likeability, and other impressions of the virtual agents and their relationship to the individuals’ characteristics. RESULTS As a result, we found the difference between the virtual agents in all measures (P < 0.001). A female anime-type virtual agent was rated as the most likeable. We also confirmed that participants’ gender, age, and autistic traits are related to the ratings. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed the effect of virtual agent design on automated social skills training. Our findings are important in designing the appearance of an agent for use in personalized automated social skills training.

scholarly journals Special issue editorial: Virtual Agents for Social Skills Training

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merijn Bruijnes ◽  
Jeroen Linssen ◽  
Dirk Heylen
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Skills Training ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Special Issue

Criteria Used to Define and Evaluate Socially competent Behavior Among Women

1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen D. Gambrill ◽  
Cheryl A. Richey
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Skills Training ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Nonverbal Behaviors ◽  
Process View ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Verbal And Nonverbal Behaviors

Criteria used to evaluate socially competent behavior of women are described and critiqued. Many definitions of social competence do not employ a process view of social behavior in which individual goals and values as well as specific verbal and nonverbal behaviors are considered. This may result in the imposition of artificial goals on consumers of assertion and social skills training programs and the neglect of individual goals. The relationship between the definition of competence used and the assessment methods relied on is discussed. The advantages of focusing on specific goals are noted and a checklist that consumers can use to review the content of training programs is provided.

scholarly journals Relationship between social skills and alcohol consumption

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ailen Galano Estevez ◽  
Justo R. Fabelo Roche ◽  
Aymara Reyes Saborit ◽  
Ana Hortensia Rodriguez Espinosa ◽  
Dilka Leyva Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Social Skills Training ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Social ◽  
Behavioral Treatments ◽  
Alcohol And Other Drugs ◽  
The Relationship

It was considered necessary to conduct a literature review with the following objective: Determine the relationship between social skills and alcohol consumption. As a result of the theoretical review carried out, it was possible to identify that numerous authors emphasize that social skills are important protective factors against alcohol consumption. On the other hand, the deficit in social skills is associated with the appearance of substance use. In addition, there are studies that point to the social incompetence of adolescents and young people as a risk factor for alcohol abuse. In this regard, several researchers have emphasized that training in social skills should be part of behavioral treatments for individuals with alcohol problems and also have to integrate preventive programs. In conclusion, the research carried out has made it possible to deduce that the strengthening of social skills can contribute to improving the resistance to pressure from the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, and therefore to the prevention of this scourge. It is concluded, therefore, that social skills training could be an option, not only for the treatment of people with alcoholism or other addiction problem but also as a prevention factor.

Yet Another Social Skills Training Program for Children: Why?

PsycCRITIQUES ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (48) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgette Yetter ◽  
Catherine Laterza
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Social Skills Training ◽  
Skills Training
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