Vicarious virtual intergroup contact: exploring domestic students’ attitudes toward domestic and international students through watching collaborative gameplay

Abstract

This study explores the influence of vicarious mediated intergroup contact on individuals’ perceptions of in-group and out-group members, with a focus on observing interactions between domestic and international students. In particular, the research examines how observing cooperative VR gameplay and the comparative performance of group members affect domestic students’ attitudes toward both domestic and international groups. Employing a 2 (team gameplay outcomes, win vs. lose) x 2 (individual member performance, domestic student outperformed vs. international student outperformed) online experiment with a between-subjects design, we gathered data from 348 undergraduate students identifying as American domestic students. Findings reveal that the in-group member’s performance significantly influences positive attitudes toward both in-group and out-group members. This influence persists irrespective of the collaborative game’s outcome, underscoring the pivotal role of in-group member performance in shaping perceptions of both domestic and international students. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.