Pepperdine University Pepperdine Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations 2011 I am here - are you there? Sense of presence and implications for virtual world design Vicki Suter Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd Recommended Citation Suter, Vicki, "I am here - are you there? Sense of presence and implications for virtual world design" (2011). Theses and Dissertations. 115. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/115 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected] , [email protected]. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology I AM HERE–ARE YOU THERE? SENSE OF PRESENCE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR VIRTUAL WORLD DESIGN A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Technology by Vicki Suter March, 2011 Linda Polin, Ph.D. – Dissertation Chairperson This dissertation, written by Vicki Suter under the guidance of a Faculty Committee and approved by its members, has been submitted to and accepted by the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Doctoral Committee: Linda Polin, Ph.D., Chairperson Eric R. Hamilton, Ph.D. Bonnie A. Nardi, Ph.D. © Copyright by Vicki Suter (2011) All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................ iix DEDICATION.................................................................................................................... x ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. xi VITA................................................................................................................................. xii ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................... xvii Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................... 1 Background and Statement of Problem ...................................................................1 Changes in the Landscape............................................................................1 Design and New Capabilities of Virtual World Technologies ....................4 Summary of the Problems to be Addressed by this Study...........................9 Previous Studies.....................................................................................................10 Limitations of Prior Research ................................................................................11 Sense of Presence as a Multidimensional Construct..............................................14 Significance of the Study.......................................................................................17 Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................................17 Research Methods and Design of Study ................................................................18 Experienced-Presence Online Surveys ......................................................19 Qualitative Data Analysis ..........................................................................19 Organization of the Study ......................................................................................21 Chapter 2: Literature Review............................................................................................ 22 Introduction and Organization of Section..............................................................22 Prior Research on Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning..........................24 Underlying Theories of the Mind, Learning and Practice .....................................25 Cognitivist Perspectives.............................................................................25 Post-Cognitivist Theories of Learning.......................................................26 Human-Computer Interaction Design....................................................................35 Cognitivist Perspective of HCI Design......................................................35 Activity Theory Perspective of HCI ..........................................................37 Collaborative Learning ..........................................................................................41 Nature of Collaborative Learning ..............................................................41 Benefits of Collaborative Learning............................................................43 Role and Importance of Collaborative Learning in Distance Learning.....44 Collaborative Learning and Social Interaction ..........................................45 Design Issues in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning ............................45 Human-Computer Interface Design for Virtual Worlds ........................................48 Basic “Hard-Wired” Virtual World Architecture ......................................48 v Page Persistence/Change Continuum and Ownership of the Virtual World ......49 World’s Logic and Physics ........................................................................51 Substance ...................................................................................................53 Presence Research..................................................................................................54 Conceptualizations of Presence .................................................................54 Suggested Categories for Conceptualizations of Presence ........................57 Presence as an Attribute of Media .............................................................58 Presence as a Property of an Individual’s Experience...............................59 Presence as a Collaborative Action-based Process....................................71 Conceptualization of Sense of Presence ................................................................75 Dimensions of the Sense of Presence ........................................................76 Sense of Place ............................................................................................76 Social Presence ..........................................................................................77 Individual Agency......................................................................................78 Mediation of Collaboration........................................................................79 Study Environment ................................................................................................82 History of the World ..................................................................................82 Capabilities and Uses of Second Life ........................................................84 Implications of the Sense of Presence in the Design of Virtual Worlds................88 Maximize Usability of Travel Interaction Techniques ..............................89 Facilitate Wayfinding.................................................................................91 Support Developmental Progression of Avatar and Identity .....................95 Provide Socio-Emotional Context and Communication Channels............99 Encourage Group Formation and Identity Development.........................100 Situate Learner in Environment with Authentic Imperative for Action ..104 Integrate Object Creation and Manipulation with Annotation and Collaboration..................................................................................106 Informal Chance Encounters and Group Awareness through Notification Systems.............................................................................110 Notification Systems to Support Collaborative Awareness.....................114 Operationalization of the Sense of Presence and Implications for Design in Virtual World........................................................................120 Definition of Other Terms for the Purposes of the Study....................................125 Collaborative Learning ............................................................................125 Presence ...................................................................................................126 Action.......................................................................................................126 Affordances..............................................................................................126 Design of Previous Studies ..................................................................................129 Sense of Place ..........................................................................................131 Social Presence ........................................................................................131 Individual Agency....................................................................................132 Issues Regarding Mediated Collaborative Action/Operation Chains ......133 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................134 vi Page Chapter 3: Methodology ................................................................................................. 137 Overview and