Samenvatting

This paper investigates how visual cues—also known as nudges—can be systematically evaluated for their effectiveness in influencing player navigation within virtual reality (VR) environments. The research aims to establish a structured approach for testing and comparing visual nudges by observing player behaviour in controlled yet immersive VR scenes. By combining behavioural science theory, environmental design principles, and immersive media, the study identifies how visual cues can be deployed and measured in open-world VR settings. Using an observational study supported by LLM categorization, various visual nudges were analysed for their influence on player behaviour.

Adaptable VR environments for testing visual nudges should be built upon three pillars: grounded psychological design principles, controlled yet immersive scene architecture, and integrated system support for data collection and analysis. These considerations not only elevate our ability to evaluate nudging strategies but also pave the way for more nuanced and ethically informed applications of behavioural design in immersive virtual worlds.