COMM 6380
Studying Virtual Embodied Communication
This course deals with the technical and theoretical aspects of conducting research on or with virtual environments. While this is not a programming course, we will complete tutorials on the basics of game engines like Unity and Unreal, modeling programs like Blender, etc. Students will learn about different consumer-grade hardware for virtual and augmented reality. As part of the course, students will learn how to design and build a study using XR, including submitting an IRB application with proper safety and privacy guards. The goal is that by the end of the course, students will have an approved, piloted “shovel ready” study to run in XR.
Topics
- Independently design and develop studies addressing XR as either a research tool or an object of study.
- Create or source virtual environments.
- Write and submit an IRB protocol that can be approved for an XR study.
- Learn to create a pre-registration plan that includes data analysis.
- Assess the efficacy of potential XR applications given the current state of the technology.
- Discuss new research in context of the scholarly literature.
- Assess ethical concerns with XR experiences.
Official roster learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027