Analysis of Intellectual Resonance (or Synchronization) Using a Card Game (5) Influence of Spatial Distance

In a series of previous studies, we have established a method to quantitatively analyze intellectual resonance on a concrete message. This method allows us to analyze how and to what extent intellectual resonance occurs in a group, through the use of digital information such as numbers and characters. In this method, participants take their seats and fill out special cards according to game instructions. The degree of coincidence among neighboring participants is then examined and scores are assigned to the results. The scores are evaluated using mathematical tools within a probability theory framework. In this study, we analyzed the data of 24 trials conducted by 32 participants over the course of eight weeks, with the purpose to evaluate the influence of distance on the degree of synchronization. The participants were instructed to carry out three different types of trials in sequence. The three types of trials were as follows: one with an aim for resonance ('positive trial'); one with an aim for no resonance ('negative trial'); and one with no aim ('neutral trial'). One half of the trials were done in a close seat arrangement, the rest of the trials were done in a distant seat arrangement. The degree of synchronization was evaluated by mean scores. Our results revealed that mean scores showed a tendency that the degree of synchronization was lower in distant seat arrangement than in close seat arrangement. The same tendency was seen in every four direction component. These results suggested the possibility that synchronization phenomena have distance dependency.