Doctoriales Epsylon 2026 Clément Mager

Doctoriales Epsylon 2026 Clément Mager

by Clément Mager

Life & Natural Systems Psychology JSociety and Social SciencesJMPsychology
🎙 Clément Mager 👥 217 📅 April 15, 2026 ⏱ 15 min 👁 70 📄 original study 🧭 2026-08-15
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

presenceimmersiontheaterspectatorembodied cognition

Summary

Clément Mager, a first-year PhD student, presents his exploratory research project on the psychological experience of theater spectators. The project is funded by the region and is part of the interdisciplinary Miranda initiative at the University of Montpellier. It involves two doctoral students: one focusing on the spectator’s experience (Mager) and another on the performer’s perspective. The research is grounded in embodied and situated cognition, emphasizing that cognition emerges from the interaction between an organism and its environment. Key concepts include neuronal resonance (mirror neurons), immersion as an objective environmental parameter, and presence as the subjective feeling of being in a mediated or live environment. The project aims to model spectator presence using posturographic measures (via a Wii Balance Board) during video viewing, to investigate the actor’s role in shaping spectator experience, and to analyze how textual tropes in dramatic texts influence presence. The ultimate goal is to develop a non-invasive real-time measure of presence applicable to various spectator-like situations (e.g., education, telework, autonomous driving). The presentation outlines three research axes and hypotheses, emphasizing the lack of prior research on subjective spectator experience in theater.

185 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The presentation offers valuable insights by bridging cognitive science and theater studies, a relatively underexplored area. The argumentation is solid, building on established theories of presence (Slater, Biocca) and embodied cognition. The speaker clearly articulates the research questions, hypotheses, and methodology, demonstrating a logical progression from theoretical foundations to empirical plans. The value lies in the innovative approach to measuring presence in real-time using posturography, which could have broader applications. The argumentation is coherent and well-structured, though the lack of empirical data limits the strength of the claims.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The presentation demonstrates scientific rigor by referencing key authors and concepts (e.g., Slater, Biocca, mirror neurons) and situating the research within existing literature. The sources are appropriate and credible, though the presentation does not provide explicit citations or URLs. The title accurately reflects the content, as it is a doctoral presentation. The methodology is described in sufficient detail, and the exploratory nature of the project is acknowledged. Overall, the scientific quality is high, with a clear theoretical grounding and a well-defined research plan.

186 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: a doctoral presentation at the Epsylon doctoral days.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The presentation is a doctoral research proposal, grounded in established theories (embodied cognition, presence) and citing relevant literature (Slater, Biocca). The methodology is clearly outlined, though the project is exploratory and lacks empirical results. The speaker demonstrates expertise and provides a coherent theoretical framework.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Slater, M. (2003). A note on presence terminology — Cited for definitions of immersion and presence
  • Biocca, F. (1997). The Cyborg's Dilemma: Progressive Embodiment in Virtual Environments — Cited for the notion of presence and its dimensions

Concurring Sources

  • Slater, M. (2003). A note on presence terminology — Supports the definition of presence as subjective feeling
  • Biocca, F. (1997). The Cyborg's Dilemma — Supports the multidimensional nature of presence

Contribution & Novelties

The project’s originality lies in applying presence research, typically conducted in virtual environments, to live theater, an area with little prior research. It proposes a novel method for real-time, non-invasive measurement of presence using posturography, which could have applications beyond theater. The interdisciplinary approach combining cognitive science and theater studies is innovative.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Embodied cognition — Foundational theory for the project.
  • Mirror neurons — Basis for neuronal resonance concept.
  • Presence (virtual reality) — Overview of presence research.
  • Slater, M. (2003). A note on presence terminology — Key reference for definitions.
  • Biocca, F. (1997). The Cyborg’s Dilemma — Key reference for presence dimensions.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quality and technical level, with slightly lower scores in quantity and reliability, reflecting the exploratory nature of the project and the lack of empirical data. The overall balance indicates a well-structured and theoretically grounded presentation.

Reliability 7/10