Does Peoples’ Keyboard Typing Reflect Their Stress Level?

Abstract

Abstract. Keyboard-typing tracking offers a convenient behavioral data collection method in web-based study settings. This paper investigated the feasibility of utilizing keyboard-typing for stress measurement. We present data from two experiments: a laboratory study with N = 53 participants and an online study with N = 924 participants. In both studies, participants typed standardized text sequences during a high-stress or low-stress condition. The manipulation checks revealed consistent differences in participant’s stress levels according to experimental conditions. The analysis of 11 typing features with frequentist and machine learning methods revealed a few isolated links between stress and keyboard typing, but the results were inconsistent across both studies and the analysis methods. To foster replication, critical discussion, and new developments, we follow the open science principles of open data, source, and methodology.