INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SEX, PRIOR EXPERIENCE, NAVIGATION METHOD, AND PERFORMANCE EFFICACY ON EXPERIENCED PRESENCE IN VIRTUAL REALITY: AN EXPLORATORY PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Presence is a central dimension of virtual reality (VR) experience, defined as the subjective feeling of being situated within a technologically mediated environment. This study aimed to characterize interactions between: 1) sex and previous VR contact frequency, 2) sex and navigation method (gaze-directed vs. pointing), and 3) sex and performance efficacy in a virtual exploration task. It also investigated whether spatial presence, involvement, experienced realism, and overall presence differed based on these variables. Twenty-four university students (18 female, 6 male), aged 18-23, participated. They were sequentially assigned to one of two navigation conditions. The task involved a 2-minute immersive exploration of a VR environment using an Oculus Rift to find eight pots. Performance was deemed effective if at least four pots were found. Presence was measured using the Portuguese version of the Igroup Presence Questionnaire. Three 2 × 2 MANOVAs were conducted for the variable combinations. No statistically significant multivariate effects were found at the 5% level, though medium-to-large effect sizes were observed, primarily for sex and its interaction with contact frequency. A univariate analysis revealed a significant effect of sex on experienced realism (p = .047, η_p^² = .183). However, the small, unbalanced sample, low statistical power, non-random condition assignment, and internal consistency issues with some questionnaire dimensions necessitate cautious interpretation. The results provide exploratory evidence requiring confirmation in larger, balanced studies with more robust methodologies.