Author(s)
Sabra Brock, PhD (faculty)
Ayushi Tandon, PhD 1
Yogini Joglekar, PhD 2
Affiliation(s)
1 Trinity College Dublin; 2 Edstutia.com;
Abstract:
This study asked if the enhanced sense of presence created in virtual reality (VR) can improve group communication and output compared with 2-dimensional platforms such as Zoom. With the growing importance of remote teams and globally distributed workforces, building connections among groups is becoming more critical.
Objective: to assess how VR can enhance group work through the lenses of three of the presences of Construal Level Theory: spatial, social. CLT observes that psychological distance affects how people think and behave (Liberman & Trope, 2023). The closer in space, social connection, time (and the likelihood of happening), the stronger the influence on thought and behavior.
Reflections from 36 participants in eight Train-the-Trainer courses in VR offered by Edstutia.com in 2022-23, as well as discussions in two focus groups with 15 of them, one conducted on a synchronous platform and the other in VR.
Virtual reality (VR) created a greater sense of spatial, social and temporal presence with others in VR campus compared to two-dimensional modalities. Here are some examples of what respondents said:
• Spatial: “You really feel an embodiment…a sense of being in the same room with others not like when we’re on Zoom.” “Your brain doesn’t perceive the difference between this and real life, whereas your brain has a serious barrier with Zoom.”
• Social: “I found that because it’s not me talking, it’s my avatar” [it was] “easier sometimes to disagree, and I’m someone who avoids conflict.” “It’s a really great tool if you want people to focus on what you’re saying to them, because I can’t multitask.”
• Time: “It’s really amazing how fast time flew.” “And when you leave VR…you feel very discombobulated in the real world.”
VR does appear to lay the groundwork for more effective teamwork by building deeper connections among group members.