Gustav Bøg Petersen defends his PhD thesis

CSS

Title

'Agents and avatars in immersive virtual reality: Effects on learning outcomes and the subjective learning experience'.

Time and place

2nd February 2024 at 1 pm (CET).

The defence will take place at The Faculty of Social Sciences (CSS), Auditorium 1.1.18., Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1353 København K.

Assessment committee

  • Professor Thomas Morton, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (chair)

  • Professor Tina Seufert, Ulm University, Germany

  • Associate Professor Géraldine Fauville, University of Göteborg, Sweden

Supervisor

  • Professor Guido Makransky, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

The thesis addresses the overarching research question of whether adding agents and avatars to virtual reality (VR) learning environments facilitate or impede learning, in addition to examining the psychological experience of encountering these on-screen characters during learning (e.g., in terms of social presence or eeriness). Through three empirical chapters, the thesis provides a deeper understanding of social communication processes between learners and digital devices, as well as between learners in cooperative settings. Moreover, the thesis provides a theoretically informed discussion of how AI agents may transform digital learning processes. In doing so, the thesis actively contributes to the rapidly evolving domain of AI and education.