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Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment

Michal Rzeszewski Orcid Logo, Tess Osborne Orcid Logo, Phil Jones Orcid Logo, Leighton Evans Orcid Logo, Gerd Weitkamp Orcid Logo

Applied Geography, Volume: 167, Start page: 103295

Swansea University Author: Leighton Evans Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103295

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the methodological implications of conducting online qualitative interviews in the metaverse through virtual reality (VR). Technology companies have invested heavily in creating metaverse platforms for bringing people together in digital worlds, yet there is a significant a...

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Published in: Applied Geography
ISSN: 0143-6228
Published: Elsevier BV 2024
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66393
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spelling v2 66393 2024-05-12 Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment cc05810f3465ddddd6814e131f4e9a79 0000-0002-6875-6301 Leighton Evans Leighton Evans true false 2024-05-12 CACS In this paper, we explore the methodological implications of conducting online qualitative interviews in the metaverse through virtual reality (VR). Technology companies have invested heavily in creating metaverse platforms for bringing people together in digital worlds, yet there is a significant absence of geographical research examining the implications of these spaces. Twenty-six undergraduate students participated in a remote interviewing exercise using the platform AltSpaceVR. Face-to-face interviews were subsequently conducted to gather their reflections about the experience of research interviews in a metaverse. The study highlights the significance of immersion and presence in virtual environments. Participants noted that, in contrast to video interviewing, the immersive nature of the virtual space resembled conventional face-to-face interviews. A sense of immersion and presence enhances the authenticity of the interview experience. There were, however, challenges in interface management and the role of avatars altering the embodied connection with the research subjects. The avatars provided personal representation but introduce complexities in establishing genuine connections and rapport. In our discussion of the implications for VR qualitative research, we emphasise the interplay of immersion, presence and embodiment which can add real value to remote interviewing experience, while reflecting on the technical and physiological limitations. Journal Article Applied Geography 167 103295 Elsevier BV 0143-6228 Qualitative interviews; Virtual reality; Metaverse; Embodiment; Dislocation; Avatars 1 6 2024 2024-06-01 10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103295 COLLEGE NANME Culture and Communications School COLLEGE CODE CACS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee This work was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland 2019/33/B/HS4/00057. 2024-06-27T16:38:29.5873845 2024-05-12T21:02:41.5422887 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Culture and Communication - Media, Communications, Journalism and PR Michal Rzeszewski 0000-0002-2170-335x 1 Tess Osborne 0000-0003-3323-8237 2 Phil Jones 0000-0001-6455-1184 3 Leighton Evans 0000-0002-6875-6301 4 Gerd Weitkamp 0000-0002-7367-8467 5 66393__30775__5d4585113fc6466bada0b7d3427d7a45.pdf 66393.VoR.pdf 2024-06-27T16:37:12.2877212 Output 3170625 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment
spellingShingle Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment
Leighton Evans
title_short Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment
title_full Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment
title_fullStr Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment
title_full_unstemmed Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment
title_sort Interviewing in the metaverse: The renewed importance of location and embodiment
author_id_str_mv cc05810f3465ddddd6814e131f4e9a79
author_id_fullname_str_mv cc05810f3465ddddd6814e131f4e9a79_***_Leighton Evans
author Leighton Evans
author2 Michal Rzeszewski
Tess Osborne
Phil Jones
Leighton Evans
Gerd Weitkamp
format Journal article
container_title Applied Geography
container_volume 167
container_start_page 103295
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
issn 0143-6228
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103295
publisher Elsevier BV
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Culture and Communication - Media, Communications, Journalism and PR{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Culture and Communication - Media, Communications, Journalism and PR
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description In this paper, we explore the methodological implications of conducting online qualitative interviews in the metaverse through virtual reality (VR). Technology companies have invested heavily in creating metaverse platforms for bringing people together in digital worlds, yet there is a significant absence of geographical research examining the implications of these spaces. Twenty-six undergraduate students participated in a remote interviewing exercise using the platform AltSpaceVR. Face-to-face interviews were subsequently conducted to gather their reflections about the experience of research interviews in a metaverse. The study highlights the significance of immersion and presence in virtual environments. Participants noted that, in contrast to video interviewing, the immersive nature of the virtual space resembled conventional face-to-face interviews. A sense of immersion and presence enhances the authenticity of the interview experience. There were, however, challenges in interface management and the role of avatars altering the embodied connection with the research subjects. The avatars provided personal representation but introduce complexities in establishing genuine connections and rapport. In our discussion of the implications for VR qualitative research, we emphasise the interplay of immersion, presence and embodiment which can add real value to remote interviewing experience, while reflecting on the technical and physiological limitations.
published_date 2024-06-01T16:38:29Z
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score 11.012678

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