Virtual Worlds as Laboratories
Title
Virtual Worlds as Laboratories
Author
Ross, Travis L.
Castronova, Edward
Knowles, Isaac
Research Area
Methods of Research
Topic
Research Methods ‐ Quantitative
Abstract
A virtual world is a persistent space where tens, hundreds, thousands, or even millions of users interact with each other and a mediated environment defined as a physical space through rules created by designers and enforced by computer code. Researchers have argued that these characteristics make virtual worlds particularly well suited for conducting parallel experiments to test macro‐level social theory. The purpose of this essay is to provide an introduction into virtual worlds research. It is not an exhaustive resource chronicling the history of virtual worlds, but rather an introduction broken into three sections for those wishing to learn more about the past, present, and future directions of the topic. First, it explores what researchers have said about using virtual worlds research and the fields of research where virtual worlds have been used. In doing so, it focuses on research in video games studies and complex systems. Second, it examines cutting‐edge work in virtual worlds research, identifying that both academia and the game industry will play a significant role in the success and direction. Third, it identifies six key issues that scholars using virtual worlds research will face as they move forward.