Who is Credible (and Where)? Using Virtual Reality to Examine Credibility and Bias of Perceived Race/Ethnicity in Urban/Suburban Environments

Abstract

This study evaluates perceptions of race/ethnicity in connection to geography of urban/suburban neighborhoods. The study takes place in a region mostly populated by people identifying as Hispanic, which is reflected in the participant demographics. Before answering the survey questions, the study used Virtual Reality to immerse participants into the scene, and to develop a more realistic experience. Results indicated that perceptions of geography have a greater impact than perceptions of race/ethnicity in terms of assumed credibility. These results challenge stereotypes that are created and commonly perpetuated in our society.

Keywords:

• Credibility
• geography
• perception bias
• race
• suburban
• urban
• virtual reality

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the participants for their cooperation and the following students at Florida International University's Mobile Virtual Reality Lab for their assistance. In video production, Cindy Castro, Luciano Cuneo, Annette De Armas, Tatiana Delgado, Marco Di Giovanni, Anastasia Forte, Edwin Garcia, Trisha Hanna, Derek Hernandez, Cristina Melendez-Cintron, Cathy Mieses, Alex Perez, and Lorena Reyes. For data collection, Briana Boone, Wilkye Castro, Kanane Chatila, Tatiana Delgado, Johanna Falkenhagen, Eddie Fuentes, Damian Gordon, Ingrid Padron, Grethel Ramos Flad.