Challenges and opportunities of remote interaction in virtual reality

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in remote interaction worldwide, driven by the global transition to remote work and learning. As people adapt to this new reality, they are exploring new forms of remote communication such as video meetings, chats, and participation in the metaverse. These modes are steadily becoming more integrated into daily interactions.

The primary objective of this project is to investigate the effect of different types of remote interaction on individuals’ behaviour. To achieve this, the project will employ various research methods, including incentivised games from behavioural economics and physiological measurements. These methods will be combined with different forms of online remote interaction to address several key questions, including participants' perceptions and beliefs about others in varying interaction settings.

The study will involve conducting experiments across different countries, including the UK, USA, and Europe, where a sample representative of different demographic groups will be recruited.
Through this research, we aim to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of remote interaction.

Entrants must have a master’s degree in economics (desirable Master in Behavioural Economics).

This is a self-funded PhD project for UK applicants.