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Students’ Design Decisions in Avatar Creation and CustomizationA dissertation submitted toThe University of Manchester For the degree of Master of Arts in Digital Technologies, Communication andEducationIn the Faculty of Humanities2009THEODORA ST. CLAIRSCHOOL OF EDUCATION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents ………………………………………….1List of Tables ………………………………………….........4List of Figures …………………………………………........5Abstract ……………………………………………………..6Declaration ......................................................................8Copyright Statement .......................................................8Acknowledgement ………………………………...............9Chapter OneINTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT ………..…………….10Introduction …………………………………...……10Purpose …………………………….......................11Rationale ………………………............................11Research Question .............................................14Structure of the Study ……………………………..15Chapter TwoLITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………..16Introduction ………………………………………..16Characteristics of Second Life……………………17Benefits of Second Life …………….....................18Concerns about Second Life …………………….20Importance of Avatars…………………………….21Creation and Customization Process of Avatars 22Issues in Avatar Design…………………………..26Representation ………………………........27
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Body Image …..........................................27Self-Presentation .......................................28Avatar Design …………………….........................30Reasons for Creating Avatars ……………...........31Appearance of the Corporeal and Digital Selves of Second Life Users ……….....................................32Conclusion ……………………..............................35Chapter ThreeMETHODOLOGY ……………………………...................37Introduction ………………………………………..37Research Strategy ..............................................37Participants .........................................................41Data Collection Methods …………………………42Photographs .............................................43Focus Groups ..........................................44Interviews .................................................45Data Analysis Methods ……………………………48Analysis of Interviews and Focus Groups 49Analysis of Photographs ...........................50Limitations ……………………………....................50Ethical Issues ……………………………………..51
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