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Dwelling in Second Life? A phenomenological evaluation of online virtual worlds

  • SI: Evaluating Virtual Worlds
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Abstract

In previous research on virtual worlds, the question of whether virtual space can be evaluated just like “real world” space has not been fully addressed. This paper challenges the perceived commonsensical set of assumptions through which virtual world activities are usually unpacked and proposes a new method of evaluating virtual worlds based on Martin Heidegger’s phenomenology. Various focus groups conducted in the virtual world Second Life confirmed that a phenomenological paradigm is more appropriate to fully make sense of and leverage this new medium. Besides questioning the relevancy of dealing with virtual worlds as if they were parallel spaces, this paper, by leveraging a new conceptualization of virtual worlds, also offers suggestions for new online qualitative methodologies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge with thanks the contributions of Emile Labidoire, Project Manager at the market research company Repères, as well as the two Virtual Reality reviewers for their insightful comments.

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  1. Groupe Sup de Co La Rochelle (CEREGE), 102 rue de Coureilles, 17000, La Rochelle, France

    Chris Houliez

  2. School of Business, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, C1A 4P3, Canada

    Edward Gamble

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  1. Chris Houliez
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Correspondence to Chris Houliez.

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Houliez, C., Gamble, E. Dwelling in Second Life? A phenomenological evaluation of online virtual worlds. Virtual Reality 17, 263–278 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-012-0218-1

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