| Description | The effects of human intervention on the environment are numerous and increasingly devastating. In the U.S., a common method to keep the public informed and engaged with environmental issues are public service announcements (PSAs). However, research indicates that PSAs may not be as effective in a modern day multi-media landscape. The present in progress research explores new ways, using the immersive and interactive affordances of virtual reality (VR), to disseminate "Public Service Experiences" (PSEs). This study seeks to build and expand upon the PSE literature by continuing to explore possible mechanisms, and their relation to one another, which may account for any potential PSE effects. More specifically, an experiment is being conducted to explore the potential impacts of narrative interactivity and naturally mapped movement during a PSE. The results should provide contributions to the literature surrounding VR effects, environmental communication, PSEs, technological immersion, narrative persuasion, and spatial presence. |
