Branches Book

BRANCHES

Emotional responses were measured using an electroencephalogram (EEG). The EEG is non-invasive and passively reads electrical activity in the brain. The EEG conducts automated waveform analysis, which quantifies the participant’s emotional responses in six categories: interest, excitement, stress, focus, engagement, and relaxation. These responses are then compared across participants and genres to determine trends. The purpose of this study is to determine whether individual emotional responses to literature are significantly different between (1) genres, and (2) individuals. The work is meaningful because it provides an opportunity to learn about psychological research at the High School level, which may be useful in future academic courses or in understanding yourself and others. Additionally, the study provides an opportunity to contribute to psychological science and to further collective knowledge about the interaction between literature and the human experience.

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