Exploring the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in Addressing Misinformation in Climate Change

This project investigates whether immersive virtual reality experiences can serve as an effective tool for countering climate change misinformation. Drawing on political psychology and human-computer interaction, the research tests how VR-based interventions — which simulate the tangible consequences of climate change — influence participants’ beliefs, attitudes, and willingness to correct prior misconceptions. Unlike traditional media corrections, VR places the participant inside a simulated environment, making the effects of climate change experientially real rather than abstractly informational. The study employs a cross-cultural experimental design and contributes to debates on science communication, belief updating, and the role of emerging technologies in democratic discourse. Findings from this project have been published in Political Psychology (2026), co-authored by Elif Erişen, Funda Yıldırım, Emirhan Duran, Hüseyin Batuhan Şar, and Irmak Kalkan.