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Virtual reality and news audiences: empathy or more?

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dc.contributor.authorRodenbaugh, Mikaela, author
dc.contributor.authorHumphrey, Michael, advisor
dc.contributor.authorLong, Marilee, committee member
dc.contributor.authorParks, Elizabeth, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2020-09-07T10:08:45Z
dc.date.available2020-09-07T10:08:45Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractIn this master's thesis, I analyzed the following question: "Does VR journalism increase empathy or prosocial behavior in news audiences?" In doing so, I also balanced considerations of other modifiers of prosocial behavior. Multiple pre-test orientations were measured via the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, the Five Factor Model of Personality, and the Ideological Consistency Scale. Then, participants were asked to watch or read The New York Times documentary "The Displaced" in three randomly assigned conditions: via a head-mounted display (HMD) Oculus Go device, using a computer mouse to click around in the YouTube 360- degree video, and via print from The New York Times Magazine. After watching or reading "The Displaced," participants were given the SUS Presence Questionnaire which measures immersion as well as the helping behaviors scale. Results showed no strong relationship between VR journalism and empathy or helping behavior in news audiences, in contrast to previous studies, however there was a strong relationship between level of immersion and story medium. There was also a strong relationship between personality disposition, empathetic capacity, and political ideology with participants' willingness to help those affected by the refugee crisis. I discuss both the ramifications of this study for newsroom practices and future research of immersive media.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierRodenbaugh_colostate_0053N_16202.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/212049
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectempathy
dc.subjectimmersive journalism
dc.subjectvirtual reality
dc.subjectimmersion
dc.subjectempathetic capacity
dc.subjectmedia effects
dc.titleVirtual reality and news audiences: empathy or more?
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineJournalism and Media Communication
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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