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The scientific research potential of virtual worlds
1Division of Information and Intelligent Systems, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 28, 2007
Summary
Online virtual worlds offer promising research avenues for social and behavioral sciences. Methodologies like ethnography and market analysis are being explored in platforms such as Second Life and World of Warcraft.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Behavioral Sciences
- Economic Sciences
- Human-Centered Computer Science
Background:
- Online virtual worlds are increasingly sophisticated electronic environments facilitating realistic human interaction and work.
- These digital spaces present unique opportunities for scientific inquiry across multiple disciplines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of virtual worlds as platforms for social, behavioral, and economic research.
- To introduce and discuss various research methodologies applicable to these environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Second Life and World of Warcraft as case studies of current virtual worlds.
- Exploring formal experimentation, observational ethnography, and quantitative analysis of social networks and economic markets within virtual environments.
Main Results:
- Virtual worlds provide viable settings for diverse scientific research methodologies.
- The examples demonstrate the feasibility of studying complex social and economic phenomena in silico.
Conclusions:
- Online virtual worlds represent a significant frontier for future scientific research.
- The methodologies discussed offer a framework for leveraging these environments for empirical study.
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