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Virtual reality as a tool for promoting reading via enhanced narrative absorption and empathy

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Reading fiction is beneficial for various social skills, although reading has become less and less popular with younger generations. This study investigated whether reading a chapter of a fictional story in virtual reality (VR) can make the reading experience more appealing and increase intention to read the story further. A between-subject experiment (N = 83) was conducted to compare the effect of a printed book and a VR reading environment on narrative absorption, empathy with fictional characters, and intention to read. The results show that VR enhances intention to read, via a serial mediation of transportation into the story world and affective empathy. These findings indicate that VR can be effectively exploited for promoting reading.

Source: Scientific Study of Literature

DOI: 10.1075/ssol.19013.pia

Authors: Federico Pianzola, Katalin Bálint, Jessica Weller

Institutions: Sogang University, University of Milano-Bicocca, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Tilburg University

Language: English

Topic: Media Influence and Health

Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W3040525980

FWCI: 14.02

Cites: 94

Cited by: 23

Related to: 10