IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Jun 2024

Researching With Virtual Reality: Exploring the Methodological Affordances of VR for Sociotechnical Research and Implications for Technical and Professional Communication

Jason Tham Texas Tech University

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality (VR) has been studied as a potential tool for preparing technical and professional communication (TPC) practitioners to contribute to emerging technologies. However, no present research in TPC has focused on the methodological value of VR as a sociotechnical research site. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the methodological value of VR by documenting the processes and methods employed by a student researcher in understanding the ways VR affect community building. Literature review: Humanists have explored and theorized virtuality from various perspectives. Social researchers have explored the use of VR in multiple sectors. Yet, TPC has not established a steady agenda for studying VR as a research site. Research questions: 1. What can we learn from a student researcher's experience of conducting social research in VR? 2. What were the methodological challenges in VR interviews? 3. How can TPC scholars use VR for research? Research methodology: Using ethnographic approaches including interviewing, affinity mapping, and reviewing of VR environments, this study collected insights about performing research with VR and its implications for TPC researchers. Results: The study's participant shared their experience with using VR to conduct research. Five categorial themes were identified from the interview: interactivity, reach, usability, positionality, and tactics. Four VR applications were reviewed. Additional methodological strategies were discussed to prepare TPC practitioners for using VR as a research technology. Conclusion: TPC researchers should consider VR as a viable research technology to expand the methodological means of TPC studies.

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published
2024-06-01
DOI
10.1109/tpc.2024.3378850
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
technical communication professional writing qualitative research affect and writing
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Tham et al. (2026)
    The User Experience of Virtual Reality for Longitudinal Writing: A Diary Study …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Jiang et al. (2026)
    Designing experience: Multimodal UX in the expanding field of composition
    Computers and Composition
  3. Caravella et al. (2026)
    Accessibility in virtual reality: A multimodal user experience framework for co…
    Computers and Composition
  4. Lambrecht et al. (2026)
    Building narrative layers in virtual reality via multimodal user experience
    Computers and Composition

References (97) · 13 in this index

  1. 10.1115/1.1353846
     ↗
  2. 10.1109/ICCET.2010.5486354
     ↗
  3. 10.1109/CENIM48368.2019.8973353
     ↗
  4. 10.3390/mti1020011
     ↗
  5. 10.1109/FIE.2005.1612051
     ↗
Show all 97 →
  1. 10.1109/51.486714
     ↗
  2. Li (2017)
    Application of virtual reality technology in clinical medicine
    Amer. J. Transl. Res.
  3. 10.1145/3325112.3325255
     ↗
  4. 10.31763/businta.v4i1.258
     ↗
  5. 10.1080/10437797.2019.1648221
     ↗
  6. 10.1080/01634372.2020.1733726
     ↗
  7. 10.1080/15228835.2019.1599765
     ↗
  8. Gibson (1966)
    The Senses Considered as Perceptual Systems
  9. 10.4324/9781315740218
     ↗
  10. Norman (1988)
    The Psychology of Everyday Things
  11. Lanamki
    When is an affordance Outlining four stances
  12. Krueger (1991)
    Artificial Reality II
  13. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.1992.tb00810.x
     ↗
  14. Bolter (1996)
    Ekphrasis, virtual reality, and the future of writing
  15. 10.1145/1026533.1026542
     ↗
  16. Lucia et al. (2024)
    “I Feel Like I’m in a Box”: Contrasting Virtual Reality “Imaginaries” in the Co…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  17. Rieder (2017)
    Suasive Iterations: Rhetoric, Writing, and Physical Computing
  18. 10.1177/1461444818792407
     ↗
  19. 10.1177/0163443720932498
     ↗
  20. 10.1016/j.destud.2020.100965
     ↗
  21. 10.1177/1071181320641300
     ↗
  22. 10.55177/tc734125
     ↗
  23. 10.1086/220534
     ↗
  24. 10.4324/9780203123966
     ↗
  25. 10.1111/jcc4.12087
     ↗
  26. Tham et al. (2018)
    Understanding Virtual Reality: Presence, Embodiment, and Professional Practice
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  27. 10.4324/9781003288008
     ↗
  28. Rai (2018)
    Field Rhetoric: Ethnography, Ecology, and Engagement in the Places of Persuasion
  29. McNely et al. (2015)
    Contemporary Research Methodologies in Technical Communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  30. 10.17730/1938-3525-81.4.401
     ↗
  31. Read (2011)
    The Mundane, Power, and Symmetry: A Reading of the Field with Dorothy Winsor an…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  32. 10.7551/mitpress/5334.001.0001
     ↗
  33. 10.1108/ccij.1999.4.4.208.1
     ↗
  34. Baudrillard (2017)
    Simulacra and Simulation Translation
  35. 10.1002/9781444310795.ch24
     ↗
  36. 10.5749/minnesota/9780816650477.003.0001
     ↗
  37. 10.18574/nyu/9780814743683.001.0001
     ↗
  38. Lanham (1992)
    Digital rhetoric: Theory, practice, and property
  39. Manovich (2001)
    The Language of New Media
  40. McLuhan (1964)
    Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
  41. 10.2307/j.ctv1168ch3.12
     ↗
  42. Wachowski (1999)
  43. 10.1007/978-3-030-70928-0
     ↗
  44. Kimmel
    Bringing engineering into K-12 schools: A problem looking for solutions
  45. 10.1177/1541931218621334
     ↗
  46. 10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.10.062
     ↗
  47. 10.1109/VR.2016.7504761
     ↗
  48. Tang
    Comparing differences in presence during social interaction in augmented reality versus v…
  49. Thrush et al. (2000)
    Virtual Reality, Combat, and Communication
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  50. Blevins (2018)
    Teaching Digital Literacy Composing Concepts: Focusing on the Layers of Augment…
    Computers and Composition
  51. Blakesley (2018)
    Composing the Un/Real Future
    Computers and Composition
  52. Euteneuer (2018)
    Conspicuous Computing: Gamified Bodies, Playful Composition, and the Monsters i…
    Computers and Composition
  53. McGrath (2018)
    Special issue on socio-technical implications of new embodied technologies on personal an…
    Int. J. Sociotechnol. Knowl. Develop.
  54. Misak (2018)
    A (Virtual) Bridge Not Too Far: Teaching Narrative Sense of Place with Virtual …
    Computers and Composition
  55. Tham (2017)
    Wearable Writing: Enriching Student Peer Review With Point-of-View Video Feedba…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  56. Frith (2022)
    The Changing Face of VR: Pushing the Boundaries of Experience Across Multiple Industries
  57. Tham (2018)
    Interactivity in an age of immersive media: Seven dimensions for wearable technology, int…
    Tech. Commun.
  58. 10.1145/3197391.3205451
     ↗
  59. 10.1109/tvcg.2021.3067783
     ↗
  60. Bader (2016)
    Identity management in virtual worlds based on biometrics watermarking
    Int. J. Comput. Syst. Eng.
  61. 10.1145/3432938
     ↗
  62. 10.1109/tvcg.2013.29
     ↗
  63. 10.3389/frobt.2016.00012
     ↗
  64. 10.1371/journal.pone.0189078
     ↗
  65. 10.1109/TVCG.2018.2794629
     ↗
  66. 10.1111/bjop.12290
     ↗
  67. 10.1109/mra.2012.2192811
     ↗
  68. 10.3389/frvir.2022.974652
     ↗
  69. 10.7551/mitpress/6687.001.0001
     ↗
  70. Berkenkotter et al. (1983)
    Decisions and Revisions: The Planning Strategies of a Publishing Writer, and Re…
    College Composition and Communication
  71. 10.2307/j.ctv2xh53ht
     ↗
  72. Lindgren (2021)
    Writing With Data: A Study of Coding on a Data-Journalism Team
    Written Communication
  73. 10.4135/9781526421036754858
     ↗
  74. Small (2017)
    (Re)Kindle: On the Value of Storytelling to Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  75. 10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4212
     ↗
  76. 10.1145/3328020.3353926
     ↗
  77. 10.1177/10778004231176283
     ↗
  78. 10.1177/1354067X16650809
     ↗
  79. Rosselot-Merritt (2020)
    Fertile grounds: What interviews of working professionals can tell us about perceptions o…
    Tech. Commun.
  80. Dam (2022)
    Affinity diagrams: How to cluster your ideas and reveal insights
    Interact. Design Found.
  81. Strauss (1990)
    Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques
  82. Charmaz (2006)
    Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis
  83. Weprin (2016)
    Design thinking methods: Affinity diagrams
  84. Learn what is an affinity diagram and how to create an affinity diagram
  85. 10.1080/10245289808523513
     ↗
  86. Jamieson (2008)
    Echo Chamber: Rush Limbaugh and the Conservative Media Establishment
  87. Nielsen (1994)
    Heuristic evaluation
  88. 10.4324/9781410607409-11
     ↗
  89. Duin (2016)
    Wearable computing, wearable composing: New dimensions in composition pedagogy
    Comput. Comp. Online
  90. Heinonen (2023)
    The benefits of extended reality for technical communication: Utilizing XR for maintenanc…
  91. 10.1109/ZINC.2018.8448645
     ↗
  92. 10.1007/978-3-319-49655-9_16
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 9 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly Oct 2024
    ’F---- Shark Tank:’ Rethinking the Centrality of the Business Pitch in Microenterprise Entrepreneurship ↗
    Mason T. Pellegrini
    rhetorical criticism genre theory graduate education technical communication professional writing qualitative research race and writing affect and writing editorial matter
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Mar 2026
    “It's Hard to Show ROI When You’re Preventing Things from Happening”: How Impact Storytelling Frames Community Health Initiatives for Executive Audiences ↗
    Margaret Hsiao
    technical communication professional writing qualitative research
  3. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Mar 2026
    Effective Practices for User-Centered Instant Localization of a Screen Reader Software ↗
    Zsuzsanna B. Palmer
    technical communication professional writing qualitative research
  4. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Jun 2025
    Comparative Study of Scientific Research Poster Design Favors Complete Assertion Headings and No Abstracts Over Other Formats ↗
    Joanna Wolfe; Juliann Reineke; Jennifer Lott
    teacher development professional writing empirical research qualitative research affect and writing
  5. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly May 2025
    “Don’t Ban, Teach”: Two Pilot Studies on AI Instruction in Business Communication ↗
    Emily Barrow DeJeu; Beth A. Walter; Michael C. Melville
    assessment professional writing qualitative research artificial intelligence affect and writing