Virtual Vistas: Exploring the Demographics of the Virtual Reality User Base

Research on the use and effects of virtual reality (VR) has increased considerably over the past decade as technological advancements continued to enhance the accessibility of VR equipment and software. A significant amount of VR research has been conducted by psychologists examining a variety of topics such as developing unique VR experiences for gaming and cinema, investigating social interactions in virtual environments, and how VR impacts cognition and perception. Previous research has aptly focused on the effects of VR use, but no studies have examined the foundational aspects of VR adoption by providing a comprehensive demographic overview. In this research we aspire to provide a nuanced understanding of the current landscape of VR users, thereby laying the groundwork for more contextually relevant and impactful investigations utilizing virtual reality. Across two studies, we recruited hundreds of VR users in Canada, The United States, and the United Kingdom to assess their demographic backgrounds (Sample A N = 638, Sample B N = 642). Males and females had similar response patterns regarding their VR experiences and participants reported using VR in a variety of contexts, such as solitarily or with friends or family. Participants from Sample A, who owned VR headsets, generally had longer and more enjoyable VR experiences than those in Sample B, with a notable finding that feelings of novelty persisted even with frequent VR use and headset ownership. The current research highlights several demographic indicators that are important to consider for sample selection or potentially controlled for in future VR research.