Absorption, immersion, and presence are interrelated concepts that play a crucial role in media studies. Absorption refers to the degree to which an individual becomes engrossed in a media experience, while immersion refers to the sensation of being fully surrounded by the media environment. Presence, on the other hand, refers to the sense of “being there” within the media environment (Slater & Wilbur, 1997).
The relationship between absorption, immersion, and presence is often described as a continuum, with absorption being the lowest level of engagement and presence being the highest. As a person becomes more absorbed in a media experience, they are more likely to become immersed in the environment, and ultimately, experience a greater sense of presence.
Research has shown that the degree of absorption, immersion, and presence in media experiences can have a significant impact on a range of outcomes, including learning, behavior, and emotional responses. For example, individuals who are more absorbed, immersed, and present during a media experience are more likely to have higher levels of recall and retention, be more influenced by the content of the media, and have stronger emotional responses (Green & Brock, 2000; Kim & Biocca, 1997).
In conclusion, absorption, immersion, and presence are interrelated concepts that play a critical role in media studies. As individuals become more absorbed in a media experience, they are more likely to become immersed in the environment and ultimately, experience a greater sense of presence. The degree of absorption, immersion, and presence in media experiences can have a significant impact on a range of outcomes, including learning, behavior, and emotional responses.
References:
Green, M. C., & Brock, T. C. (2000). The role of transportation in the persuasiveness of public narratives. Journal of personality and social psychology, 79(5), 701.
Kim, J., & Biocca, F. (1997). Telepresence via television: Two dimensions of telepresence may have different connections to memory and persuasion. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 3(2), JCMC321.
Slater, M., & Wilbur, S. (1997). A framework for immersive virtual environments (FIVE): Speculations on the role of presence in virtual environments. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 6(6), 603-616