Assessing the social presence: validation of the Russian-language version of The Networked Minds Social Presence Inventory

Context and relevance. Social presence (SP) — the subjective experience of a communication partner's presence and involvement in mediated communication – is a significant predictor of interaction quality, learning effectiveness, and group cohesion. In Russian-language psychology, validated self-report instruments for assessing SP are lacking, which limits research opportunities in both face-to-face and mediated communication settings. Objective. To validate the Russian-language version of the Networked Minds Social Presence Inventory (NMSPI) and evaluate its psychometric properties. Hypothesis. Subjective ratings of social presence are positively correlated with satisfaction with the interaction and behavioral indicators of willingness to continue communication. Methods and materials. Two studies involved 234 participants (online survey, N = 167; laboratory experiment, N = 67). The Russian-language version of the NMSPI (36 items, 6 subscales), communication satisfaction scales, and behavioral indicators were used. Reliability analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and correlational methods were applied. Results. High internal consistency was confirmed for the total scale (α = 0.95) and subscales (α = 0.84—0.92). Exploratory factor analysis supported the six-factor structure despite cross-loadings and inconsistent confirmatory factor analysis indices. A significant association was found between SP and communication satisfaction (r = 0.55—0.65); however, the relationship with behavioral indicators was not supported. Conclusions. The Russian-language version of the NMSPI demonstrates reliability and criterion validity for assessing interaction quality across different communication formats. The instrument is recommended for research purposes, with consideration for further optimization of its factor structure.

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