Exploring self-presence in collaborative virtual teams

Abstract

The concept of self-presence provides a framework for understanding how people connect to virtual self-representations on three distinct levels (body, emotions, and identity). The present study aims to build on previous support for the reliability and construct validity of this framework. Participants (N=81) who used avatars in a semester-long collaborative virtual group project were examined. A factor analysis of the Self-Presence Questionnaire (SPQ) was mostly consistent with the framework of self-presence, though a new sub-factor emerged, possibly due to new SPQ items or limitations of the virtual environment. Factors of self-presence were related to social presence as expected, but not to frequency of avatar changes. These findings support the framework, but deeper explorations of the concept are still necessary.