Examining the Effects of Video Camera Angles on Interpersonal Impressions

The effect of different camera angles on the perceptions of the speaker formed over a virtual interaction, especially in the context of telehealth encounters, has not been systematically investigated. The present study explored how vertical and horizontal angles impact perceptions of a healthcare provider in a video encounter using a 2 (angle type: eye level vs. alternate angle) X 2 (video order: eye level presented first vs. alternate angle presented first) mixed design. Participants watched two different segments of an encounter where camera angle was examined within subjects and order of presentation was examined between subjects. It was hypothesized that participants would perceive the speaker to be more dominant with lower vs. higher camera angles and that a camera placed toward the speaker's right side would produce lower engagement ratings as informed by the Model of Listening Engagement (MoLE) and less accurate ratings of nonverbal behaviors according to the Parallel Processing Model (PPM). The dependent measures included ratings of dominance, effectiveness, engagement, and indices of nonverbal-paraverbal communication. Results demonstrated no major differences between angles outside of order effects, but with some participants preferring the eye level angle. These findings suggest that perceptions of a healthcare provider over video in this study did not complement those in the literature in terms of perceived dominance and engagement. Thus, camera placements that deviate from eye level center may not be detrimental to impressions of a healthcare provider formed through a virtual telehealth encounter.