Qualitative study on the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations of second life users

Date of Publication

2010

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Psychology

Thesis Adviser

Jennifer Ann L. Lajom

Defense Panel Member

Maria Andrea S. Tirazona

Abstract/Summary

This study explores the different intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to join and continued participation of users in the virtual environment of Second Life (SL) and their real life implications in terms of psychological need fulfillment. A conveniently chosen sample of 15 participants were interviewed five (5) of which had blogs pertaining to their SL experiences which were also used to support their claims in the interviews. The results of the study show eight (8) different categories of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to join and continue participation. These include the following curiosity, enjoyment, learning, monetary gains, relationship formation, escape from reality, fantasy fulfillment, control, and self-enhancement. The findings in this study support the idea of users engaging in this virtual environment to fulfill their basic psychological needs for autonomy, competency, and relatedness.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Print

Accession Number

TU15790

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F, Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

106 leaves ; 29 cm.

Keywords

Virtual reality; Human-computer interaction; Avatars (Computer graphics); Shared virtual environments; Interactive multimedia

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