The Impact of Gender and Level of Control over Agents’ Aesthetics on User Experiences in VR Training

This study explores how user gender, agent gender, and control over agent aesthetics affect experiences in a VR phishing awareness training application. As digital agents become more common in immersive training, understanding their design impact is critical. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: (1) full customization of the agent’s appearance, (2) selection from pre-made agents, or (3) no choice. We measured outcomes including phishing awareness (immediate and retained), mental effort, enjoyment, presence, and relatedness. Results showed no significant effects of user gender or choice condition on awareness, mental effort, or presence. However, female participants reported greater relatedness with their agent at a three-month follow-up, suggesting potential long-term engagement benefits. Aesthetic control did not significantly influence learning or awareness retention, underscoring the importance of content quality over personalization. These findings contribute to research on gender dynamics and customization in immersive learning environments.