The use of Virtual Reality for understanding situations: A fixed effects design

Abstract

<p>In this chapter, we summarize and evaluate experimental approaches to situational research with an emphasis on virtual reality (VR). First, we outline different methods to partition variance in person and situation perception and highlight the advantages of experimental studies as a fixed-effect design. Next, we weigh the merits of some commonly employed methods to standardize situations in experimental settings. The core of the chapter is devoted to VR. After a brief historical and conceptual introduction, we discuss the value of VR as a research tool in terms of internal and external validity. Subsequently, we show how VR can aid the study of person-situation interactions using virtual replications of classical social psychology studies. Finally, we review recent studies that have pushed the boundaries of VR and enumerate the challenges yet to be overcome in the field. In sum, we aim to provide a succinct and encouraging primer on the use of VR for situation research.</p>