Virtual worlds and online societies are a growing part of the world today, and have not had the extensive research that most of the world's social settings have. We began research in the field with general surveying and active participant observation. Our results showed, first, that people who join virtual social environments and turn away from their old real-world social activities often more than make up for it by participation in the social aspects of online, virtual worlds. Secondly, it opened the doors for a wide range of possible future research in the field, which we strongly hope others will take on in the future.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Sheldon, Nathan Alexander
• Wright, Peter Lloyd

Subject

• Well-Being
• Computing
• Culture
• Community

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 02D123I

Keyword

• Video games
• Virtual reality

Advisor

• Doyle, James Kevin

Year

• 2002

Date created

• 2002-01-01

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-02-01