Social presence as a multi-dimensional group construct in 3D virtual environments

• Autores: Anu Sivunen, Emma Nordbäck
• Localización: Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, ISSN-e 1083-6101, Vol. 20, Nº. 1, 2015, págs. 19-36
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • 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.