Does Avatar Appearance Matter? How Team Visual Similarity and Member–Avatar Similarity Influence Virtual Team Performance

S.F. van der Land; A.P. Schouten; J.F.M. Feldberg; M.H. Huysman; B.J. van den Hooff

doi:10.1111/hcre.12044

Does Avatar Appearance Matter? How Team Visual Similarity and Member–Avatar Similarity Influence Virtual Team Performance

S.F. van der Land, A.P. Schouten, J.F.M. Feldberg, M.H. Huysman, B.J. van den Hooff

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This multimethod study investigated how avatar appearance influences virtual team performance. This study is the first to integrate the framework of social identity model of de-individuation effects (SIDE) and Self-Identification theory, using "morphing" techniques. Results were obtained from a 2 (team visual similarity: dissimilar vs. similar team avatars)×2 (member-avatar similarity: cartoon avatars vs. avatar similar to self) experiment (N=240). The findings indicated that teams using "morphed team avatars," which combined both a high degree of team visual similarity and member-avatar similarity in their appearances, performed best on the task, and showed greater social attraction than teams in the other conditions. Moreover, content analysis of the chat conversations revealed that these teams interacted more strategically and expressed a greater motivation to solve the task.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	128-153
Journal	Human Communication Research
Volume	41
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12044
Publication status	Published - 2015

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T1 - Does Avatar Appearance Matter? How Team Visual Similarity and Member–Avatar Similarity Influence Virtual Team Performance

AU - van der Land, S.F.

AU - Schouten, A.P.

AU - Feldberg, J.F.M.

AU - Huysman, M.H.

AU - van den Hooff, B.J.

PY - 2015

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Does Avatar Appearance Matter? How Team Visual Similarity and Member–Avatar Similarity Influence Virtual Team Performance

Abstract

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