2023 BEA On-Location

Moderator/Discussant: Cory Armstrong, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

A Case Study Comparison of Student Opinions When Viewing 360-Degree, Virtual Reality (VR) Content via Flat Screen Displays Versus Head Mounted Displays (HMD); Brian Mihalik, University of South Carolina, Ali Iskender, Western Carolina University, Aisha S. Haynes, University of South Carolina & Linda Mihalik, University of South Carolina
In the late fall of 2022, the authors discovered that the ability to utilize inexpensive HMDs combined with a student’s personnel smartphone was terminated for all users of the iOS Apple devices via YouTube and Vimeo viewing platforms. What was commonly referred to as the “Google Cardboard Icon” was eliminated on YouTube for almost all users. Thus, students could no longer insert their personal iOS smartphones into an inexpensive $30 head mounted display and become “immersed” in the 360-degree educational content hosted on YouTube or Vimeo. Academics who had been incorporating inexpensive 360-degree VR content into K-16 classes for over the past 5 years could no longer utilize inexpensive headsets with Apple smartphones for an immersive virtual reality experience.

Virtual Reality for Climate Change Knowledge and Intended Pro-Climate Actions: Findings from a Pilot Study; Sharavan Regret Iyer; Rutgers University
Considering the potential of virtual reality (VR) in addressing social change issues, a growing body of research highlights the need for VR content production to address abstract and complex issues of climate change. In particular, people who feel undecided or uncertain about climate change because they cannot see the environment changing first-hand may become more engaged by a VR first-person perspective. Guided by the experiential media (EM) theory, particularly the first-person perspective quality of the EM, and the conceptual framework created with insights from the literature review, this pilot study, involving three participants in a between-subjects experiment with a post-test survey followed by an open-ended qualitative interview, examined RQ1: What is the effect of VR first-person perspective experience of climate change communication on climate change knowledge compared to VR non-first-person perspective climate change communication? RQ1a: Does the effect of VR first-person perspective experience of climate change communication on climate change knowledge lead to an increase in intended climate action compared to VR non-first-person perspective climate change communication? RQ2: What is the effect of VR first-person perspective experience of climate change communication on hope, fear, and self-efficacy towards climate change compared to VR non-first-person perspective climate change communication? And finally, RQ2a: Does the effect of VR first-person perspective experience of climate change communication on hope, fear, and self-efficacy towards climate change lead to an increase in intended climate action compared to VR non-first-person perspective climate change communication? Although the findings from the pilot study offered limited insights into understanding the role of VR first-person perspective in climate change communication and pro-climate actions, the pilot study process has helped create a design and a clear road map (which this paper highlights) for the researcher to pursue this emerging topic in the domain of media studies as full-fledge research involving larger sample size to determine the effects of VR-first person perspective in climate change knowledge, hope, fear, self-efficacy, believability, embodiment, and intended pro-climate social actions.

Media representations of natural disasters in the global south: A Case study of 2022 floods in Pakistan; Shahbaz Aslam, COMSATS & Muhammad Yousaf, Assistant Professor, University of Gujrat
This research aims to examine the media representations of natural disasters in the Global South, focusing on the case study of the 2022 floods in Pakistan. Natural disasters have profound influences on countries in the Global South, yet media coverage often perpetuates certain narratives and power dynamics. Employing a comprehensive research approach, this study conducts a critical analysis of media representations to uncover the dominant discourses and underlying ideologies related to the floods in Pakistan. By investigating the construction of the event, its causes, consequences, and the portrayal of affected communities, this research sheds light on how media representations shape public perceptions and influence policy responses. Through a rigorous examination of news articles, television reports, and online media sources, this study aims to contribute towards a deeper understanding of the media's role in framing and disseminating information about natural disasters in the Global South, specifically within the context of the 2022 floods in Pakistan. The findings can provide a comprehensive understanding of the framing, narratives, representation of local voices, climate change discourse, and the role of social media in shaping the media landscape during the floods. The findings can contribute to a critical analysis of media representations of natural disasters in the Global South and inform efforts to improve media coverage, public perception, and policy responses in the future ultimately aiming to enhance public awareness, empathy, and effective disaster response in the future.