Social Presence as a Multi‐Dimensional Group Construct in 3D Virtual Environments |
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Authors: | Anu Sivunen Emma Nordbäck |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Aalto University School of Science, Aalto, Finland;2. Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Aalto University School of Science, Aalto, Finland |
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Abstract: | One of the key challenges of distributed teams is the lack of social presence resulting from multiple work locations. Virtual environments (VEs) have been viewed as a collaboration tool for distributed teams that can enhance social presence via shared collaboration space and avatars. We observed, recorded, and analyzed the VE meetings of a globally distributed team. Data were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative content analysis. Our findings show that in the meetings, social presence was a situational phenomenon that constantly varied in strength. Social presence occurred as either a subgroup or group phenomenon, which at times coexisted at both levels. In particular, 2 of the 3 subdimensions of social presence, psychological involvement and behavioral engagement, were observable in team interaction. |
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Keywords: | Avatars Distributed Team Social Presence Virtual Environment Virtual Team Virtual World |
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