The scientific research potential of virtual worlds

被引：474

作者：

Bainbridge, William Sims ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Natl Sci Fdn, Div Informat & Intelligent Syst, Arlington, VA 22230 USA

来源：

SCIENCE | 2007年 / 317卷 / 5837期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1126/science.1146930

中图分类号：

O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];

学科分类号：

07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;

摘要：

Online virtual worlds, electronic environments where people can work and interact in a somewhat realistic manner, have great potential as sites for research in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences, as well as in human-centered computer science. This article uses Second Life and World of Warcraft as two very different examples of current virtual worlds that foreshadow future developments, introducing a number of research methodologies that scientists are now exploring, including formal experimentation, observational ethnography, and quantitative analysis of economic markets or social networks.

引用

页码：472 / 476

页数：5