Nature Connection and 360-Degree Video: An Exploratory Study With Immersive Technology

Abstract

Background: Immersive technologies may be an avenue to explore the construct of human–nature connection more thoroughly and without some of the obstacles to accessing nature in-person. Purpose: The aim of this project was to discover if self-exposure to immersive virtual nature can lead to any change in nature connectedness. Methodology/Approach: Participants were recruited from the Texas State University campus and randomized into three experimental conditions: a filmed library or nature experience, and an in-nature experience. 360-degree videos of a nature preserve and the university library were projected within a head-mounted display in a laboratory setting. Results of pre- and postsurvey data were compared between experimental groups. Findings/Conclusions: Pairwise comparisons with the Nature Relatedness Scale indicated that participants in the in-nature experience reported significantly stronger beliefs about their connection to nature than those in either virtual condition. With respect to the State of Independence with Nature Scale, planned pairwise comparisons indicated that between participants in the in-nature experience and the virtual nature experience did not differ. Implications: This study suggests that to connect with nature, one should spend time there. In addition, here data support that a virtual immersive nature experience can affect a state-dependent measurement of nature connection, and even equal that of an in-nature experience.

Psychological Effects of Green Experiences in a Virtual Environment: A Systematic Review

“…Two studies reported a relationship and independence with nature after walking in a virtual forest [54,60]. Sneed et al [54] conducted a study using videos captured while walking in a real environment for 10 min.…”

“…Two studies reported a relationship and independence with nature after walking in a virtual forest [54,60]. Sneed et al [54] conducted a study using videos captured while walking in a real environment for 10 min. Consequently, the Nature Relatedness Scale (NRS) was increased in the group that walked through the real and virtual forests, but the group that observed a virtual library experienced little change.…”

“Nature Environments Without Actually Being There”: Virtual Recreation Experiences and Real-World Intentions

“…Outdoor recreation professionals have largely not been involved in creating virtual reality content or recruiting participants through this pathway. While there are numerous studies showing its potential with research populations (e.g., Browning et al, 2020;Sneed et al, 2021), nature in virtual reality applications does not have the presence and popularity of video games and other computer-generated content. Future research should focus on the potential for 360-degree video experiences and how these experiences can be made more widely available.…”

“…Virtual reality provides a potential pathway to motivate students to pursue realworld outdoor recreation. Experiences with virtual nature may increase nature connectedness (Sneed et al, 2021), but it is less clear whether these experiences encourage intent to recreate outside. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether virtual reality nature experiences influence intent and self-efficacy to recreate in nature among college students.…”

Virtual Nature and Psychological Outcomes: A Systematic Review

“…(i.e., score equal to 6.5) percentiles, we categorized the studies into "high quality", "medium quality" and "low quality" (Table S3). Fourteen studies were classified as having a high quality (Annerstedt et al, 2013;Blum et al, 2019;Browning, Mimnaugh et al, 2020;Hedblom et al, 2019;Huang et al, 2020;Lakhani et al, 2020;O'meara et al, 2020;Palanica et al, 2019;Rockstroh et al, 2019;Schutte et al, 2017;Sneed et al, 2021;Tabrizian et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2020;Yeo et al, 2020),a further sixteen studies (Anderson et al, 2017;Calogiuri et al, 2018;Chirico, & Gaggioli, 2019;Fleury et al, 2021;Hofman et al, 2021;Lindquist et al, 2020;Liszio, & Masuch, 2019;Liszio et al, 2018;Mattila et al, 2020;Reese et al, 2021;Schebella et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2019;Xiang et al, 2021;Yu et al, 2018;Yu et al, 2020) were classified as having "medium quality", and eight (Burmeister et al, 2018;Evensen et al, 2021;Gao et al, 2019a;2019b;Je, & Lee, 2020;Mostajeran et al, 2021;Pals et al, 2014;van Vliet et al, 2021) as having "low quality". The item in which we found a lower overall score is that on power analysis (pre-or post-hoc) which...…”