SOCIAL COMMUNICATION DYNAMICS IN ATHLETES WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND SEDENTARY INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES VIA METAVERSE.pptx

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1. By: MUSTAFA MOHAMMED COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY SOCIAL COMMUNICATION DYNAMICS IN ATHLETES WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND SEDENTARY INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES VIA METAVERSE PhD Supervisor: Asst. Prof. DR. GALIP ERZAT ERDIL

2. Aim of the Study 2 To i nvestigate whether athletes with disabilities demonstrate more dynamic communication compared to non-athletes with disabilities. Employing a mixed-methods approach, testing themes in the Metaverse the research will: Observe participants' interactions in the Metaverse to document natural non-verbal behaviors (e.g., expressing emotions, conveying intentions). Conduct interviews to explore participants' experiences highlighted themes such as perceptions, practices, strategies, consequences, challenges, experiences of non-verbal communication using Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) practice.

3. Aim of the Study 3 The research seeks to understand the influence of various pre-existing sports activities on individuals with disabilities in dynamic communication by comparing players and non-athletes. This could enhance the design of the function of sports for those with disabilities and its influence on the dynamics of natural communication and non-verbal communication. This study aims to overcome the shortcomings of past research on nonverbal communication strategy in online social spaces. It focuses on the distinctiveness and desirability of nonverbal communication in the context of individuals with disabilities.

4. 4 Methodology My main research question was whether disabled athletes are more dynamic communicators or non-athletes with disabilities by testing them in metaverse experiments, recording all their activity in metaverse applications, then conducting personal interviews for all the experimenters. A qualitative research approach will apply to explore the experiences especially focus on understanding novel non-verbal communication in social virtual reality (VR). I will report findings of two empirical studies. Study 1 collected observational data to explore the types of non-verbal interactions being used naturally in social VR. Study 2 an interview study (N=40) that investigated people’s perceptions of non-verbal communication in social VR as well as the resulting interaction outcomes.

5. 5 Methodology Study1 Understanding what types of non-verbal interactions occur in the context of social academically, as it requires understanding the types of non-verbal communication that occur in the context of the metaverse. Since social VR research is still in its infancy, I conduct some descriptive research to document behaviors that will naturally use by metaverse users. Method I will conduct unobtrusive observations to collect data. In unobtrusive observations, I will not interact or communicate with online users but rather only watch and record their activities and interactions. I will attend 40 participants, 20 athletes with disabilities and 20 disabled non-athletes persons, between half an hour to two hours each. They will use their avatars to participate in the metaverse apps virtually, but will be instructed to have limited verbal interactions with other users and what others are doing primarily. To ensure analysis of non-verbal interactions, I will record a video for each participant.

6. Methodology 6 Data Analysis The collect data will be analyzed through a process of open-coding following the methodology of Strauss and Corbin. I will generate a list of codes that indicated non-verbal behaviors such as dancing, gestures, facial expressions, avatar movements). Using open coding,  analyze these observations to identify initial codes representing the observed behaviors. These codes can be descriptive (e.g., "pointing," "smiling") or more interpretive (e.g., "expressing frustration," "showing confidence and pointing as well as the context of the event (e.g., party, musical performance) based on the observations.

7. 7 Non-verbal cues Dzardanova, Elena, Vasiliki Nikolakopoulou, Vlasios Kasapakis, Spyros Vosinakis, Ioannis Xenakis, and Damianos Gavalas.(2024) Social VR design Marcel Jonas, Steven Said, Daniel Yu, Chris Aiello, Nicholas Furlo, and Douglas. 2019. Joshua McVeigh-Schultz, Anya Kolesnichenko, and Katherine Isbister. 2019  Misha Sra, Aske Mottelson, and Pattie Maes. 2018. Communication and interaction modes in social VR Joshua McVeigh-Schultz, Elena Márquez Segura, Nick Merrill, and Katherine. 2018.   Fares Moustafa and Anthony Steed. 2018. John Scott Siri Jr, Hamna Khalid, Luong Nguyen, and Donghee Yvette Wohn. 2018. Social interaction sequences Lindsay Blackwell, Nicole Ellison, Natasha Elliott-Deflo, and Raz Schwartz. 2019. LindsayBlackwell,NicoleEllison,NatashaElliott-Deflo,andRazSchwartz.2019.  Samaneh Zamanifard and Guo Freeman. 2019. Understanding novel non-verbal C ommunication in Metaverse

8. 8 Exploring communicatioin dynamics Victor Cheung, Y-L Betty Chang, and Stacey D Scott. 2012.   Nicolas Ducheneaut, Robert J Moore, and Eric Nickell. 2007.   Susan C Herring, Daniel O Kutz, John C Paolillo, and Asta Zelenkauskaite. 2009.   Alex Leavitt, Brian C Keegan, and Joshua Clark. 2016.      Non-verbal communication, information behaviors Mark L Knapp, Judith A Hall, and Terrence G Horgan. 2013.   Susan W Goodwyn, Linda P Acredolo, and Catherine A Brown. 2000. Avatar mediated communication- non-verabl communication Barbara Becker and Gloria Mark. 1998.   M Fabri, DJ Moore, and DJ Hobbs. 2002.   Doron Friedman, Anthony Steed, and Mel Slater. 2007.     Ciara R Wigham and Thierry Chanier. 2013.    GuoZhangFreeman,JeffreyBardzell,andShaowenBardzell.2016.   Mark W Bell. 2008. Understanding novel non-verbal C ommunication in Metaverse

9. 9 Computer mediated communication Joan Gajadhar and JS Green. 2003.   Jim Gemmell, Kentaro Toyama, C Lawrence Zitnick, Thomas Kang, and Steven Seitz. 2000.   Christopher Joseph Jenks. 2009.    Katja Neureiter, Martin Murer, Verena Fuchsberger, and Manfred Tscheligi. 2013.   Carsten Röcker. 2012.   Greg Wadley, Marcus Carter, and Martin Gibbs. 2015. Facial expressions Body languages Kimmel, Simon, Frederike Jung, Andrii Matviienko, Wilko Heuten, and Susanne Boll.2023,   Courtland L Bovée, John V Thill, and Barbara E Schatzman. 2003.   Sandor S Feldman. 1959.   Martin S Remland. 2016.   Body reactions Mascha Van’t Wout and Alan G Sanfey. 2008. Understanding novel non-verbal C ommunication in Metaverse

10. 10 A knowledge others Jurgen Streeck. 1994. Visual animations Mark L Knapp, Judith A Hall, and Terrence G Horgan. 2013. head nodding behaviour Aburumman, Nadine, Marco Gillies, Jamie A. Ward, and Antonia F. de C. Hamilton .  Understanding novel non-verbal C ommunication in Metaverse

11. 11 Methodology Study 2 A fter reviewing findings of Study1 consider that it will necessary and important to further understand social VR users’ motivations, perceptions, and experiences behind their non-verbal behaviors rather than just observing these behaviors. This motivate me to conduct a follow-up interview study to explore 1) how people perceive and understand these various types of non-verbal communicatio n affects their interaction outcomes in social VR.   Method The participants in the Metaverse tests consist of 20 disabled athletes and 20 disabled non-athletes, both sexes and various age groups representing. The primary interview questions will pertain to the user's social interactions and ability to develop relationships in social virtual reality (VR), the significant activities and social experiences they engage in within social VR, and their views and comprehension of the affordances of social VR. Referring to the recommendations proposed by McDonald et al. for qualitative analysis in the fields of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) practice.