Examining the Relationship Between Student Test Anxiety and Webcam Based Exam Proctoring
With increased pressures on maintaining a stellar academic performance for future academia or occupational possibilities, students may suffer test anxiety at some point in their higher education journey. For decades, empirical, observational, research has been conducted to determine the psychological and physiological effects of test anxiety. This exploratory research examines the in-situ behaviors displayed by students while taking online course exams through use of a virtual proctor and how that relates to student self-reported indications of test anxiety. While the top ten behaviors observed to occur most frequently (e.g., directional change in gaze, furrowed eyebrows) do not align with reported physiological responses of test anxiety, the findings of this exploratory research can prepare instructors for what behaviors they can expect to see from their students while taking virtual proctored exams. In interviews, students self-identified behavioral coping skills used while taking their exams. This unexpected finding was consistent with the behaviors demonstrated by students and invites the opportunity for instructors to incorporate material within their eLearning courses that will help students become calmer while taking their online exams.
