Guidelines for Conducting Text Based Interviews in Virtual Worlds

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Human–Computer Interaction Series book series (HCIS)

Abstract

Interviews are a staple data collection tool in social science research and in recent decades have been increasingly formalised and systematised. However, due to the specific affordances and constraints of virtual worlds, researchers cannot simply replicate traditional interview techniques in virtual worlds without careful consideration of the specific features of the technology. For example the prominent use of text as the medium for communication, role of the avatar, interview location and inworld objects have implications for all inworld research interviews. Building on the foundation of traditional interviews in educational research and the current literature on inworld interviews, this chapter focuses on the use of text communication tools in both one-to-one and group interviews inworld. Based on previous research by the authors the opportunities, implications, constraints and techniques for conducting text based interviews inworld are discussed. The chapter concludes with a set of guidelines for researchers considering the use of inworld text based interviews.

Keywords

Educational Research Virtual World Group Interview Communication Tool Instant Messaging 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Anderson, K. (2007). Ethical issues in qualitative e-learning research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 6(2), 20–38.Google Scholar
  2. Brenner, M. (2006). Interviewing in educational research. In J. Green, G. Camilli, & P. Elmore (Eds.), Handbook of complementary methods in education research (pp. 357–370). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
  3. Chen, P., & Hinton, S. M. (1999). Realtime interviewing using the world wide web. Sociological Research Online, 4(3). http://www.socresonline.org.uk/4/3/chen.html
  4. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education (6th ed.). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
  5. Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River: Merrill Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
  6. Girvan, C., & Savage, T. (2011). Conducting text-based interviews in virtual worlds. In A. Peachey (Ed.), Proceedings of researching learning in immersive virtual environments (ReLIVE2011) (pp. 78–86). Milton Keynes: The Open University.Google Scholar
  7. Girvan, C., & Savage, T. (2012). Ethical considerations for educational research in a virtual world. Interactive Learning Environments, 20(3), 239–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Girvan, C., Tangney, B., & Savage, T. (2013). SLurtles: A tool to support constructionist learning in second life. Computers in Education, 61(1), 115–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Hew, K. F., & Cheung, W. S. (2010). Use of three-dimensional (3-D) immersive virtual worlds in K-12 and higher education settings: A review of the research. British Journal of Educational Technology, 41(1), 33–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Jarmon, L. (2009). Pedagogy and learning in the virtual world of second life. In P. Rogers, G. Berg, J. Boettcher, C. Howard, L. Justice, & K. Schenk (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of distance and online learning (2nd ed., pp. 1610–1619). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Jepsen, D. M., & Rodwell, J. J. (2008). Convergent interviewing: A qualitative diagnostic technique for researchers. Management Research News, 32(9), 650–658.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Kirriemuir, J. (2007). An update of the July 2007 “snapshot” of UK higher and further education developments in second life. Bath: Eduserv.Google Scholar
  13. Knorr, R. M., Bronack, S. C., Switzer, D. M., & Medford, L. F. (2011). Methodology of a novel virtual phenomenology interview technique. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, 3(3). doi: 10.4101/jvwr.v3i3.1400
  14. Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). InterViews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing. London: Sage.Google Scholar
  15. Minocha, S., Tran, M., & Reeves, A. (2010). Conducting empirical research in virtual worlds: Experiences from two projects in second life. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, 3(1), 3–21.Google Scholar
  16. Moschini, E. (2008, November). The second life researcher toolkit. An exploration of inworld tools, methods and approaches for researching educational projects in second life. In Proceedings of the researching learning in virtual environments conference, ReLIVE08, Milton Keynes.Google Scholar
  17. Tuckman, B. W. (1994). Conducting educational research. London: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.Google Scholar
  18. Vasileiou, V. N., & Paraskeva, F. (2010). Teaching role-playing instruction in Second Life: An exploratory study. Journal of Information, Information Technology, and Organizations, 5, 25–40.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag London 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Centre for Research in IT in Education, School of Computer Science and StatisticsTrinity College DublinDublinIreland

Personalised recommendations