University of Twente Student Theses
Meeting the future: Comparing Social Presence in Virtual Reality, Video Conferencing, and Face-to-Face
Hoogendoorn, Y.A. (2025) Meeting the future: Comparing Social Presence in Virtual Reality, Video Conferencing, and Face-to-Face.
|
PDF
1MB |
| Abstract: | The shift toward hybrid and remote work raises critical questions about how different meeting modalities impact social presence, engagement, and collaboration. While platforms like Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) are widely used, they often fall short in replicating the dynamics of face-to-face (F2F) meetings. Virtual Reality (VR) offers a more immersive alternative, but its practical effectiveness in business settings remains uncertain. This study investigated differences in perceived social presence and meeting effectiveness across VR, MS Teams, and F2F at CGI. Using a repeated-measures design, seven participants took part in the same meeting across all three modalities. Data were collected through an adapted version of the Networked Minds Social Presence Inventory and structured observations. Repeated Measures ANOVA and Linear Mixed Models showed that F2F scored highest, followed by MS Teams, with VR scoring significantly lower—especially in co-presence and affective understanding. Observations revealed limited interaction and non-verbal cues in VR. These results were linked to technical constraints, including outdated hardware and lack of facial or eye tracking. The study concludes that under current conditions, VR is not yet a suitable replacement for F2F or video conferencing. Future adoption requires better hardware, more interactive meeting design, and user training to unlock VR’s collaborative potential. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Clients: | CGI, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | Business Administration MSc (60644) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106227 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
Show download statistics for this publication
Show download statistics for this publicationRepository Staff Only: item control page