Aayushi Barai's Blog

I had a review with Nigel to go over my topic, question, and general progress so far. I didn’t have the full literature review written yet, but I had about 8–9 sources ready that I’d been working with, and he went through them with me.

He said the topic and question are solid and that I should definitely continue with it, which was really reassuring. It gave me more confidence to move forward, especially since I’ve been focusing a lot on building a strong direction. He encouraged me to read a bit more, just to expand the research base, but overall he seemed happy with the choices I’d made so far.

I also showed him the names of the chapters I had in mine and he went through them and suggested a few changes as well as omissions. Having my key sources and chapter names approved made me feel like I’m on track. The feedback helped me narrow my focus even more, and now I know what to improve and expand on next.

This week, I focused on writing my literature review, which is one of the most important parts of academic research. It’s basically the section that shows what other people have already said about the topic and how my project fits into that conversation. I aimed for around 600–650 words, so I needed to make sure it was focused, relevant, and actually helpful to the direction I’m taking.

A literature review is more than just a summary—it’s like building the foundation of the research. It usually includes an introduction to the main theories and ideas, a main body that brings together different sources (from broader ideas to more specific ones), and a conclusion that points out what’s missing in the current research or where I might be going next.

While writing mine, I tried to avoid just describing each article and instead grouped similar ideas and themes—especially around identity, digital spaces, and immersion. I looked at what each author was saying about how people build and live through digital selves, how immersive environments like games or VR shape that process, and what psychological effects might come with it. I also made sure to reflect on the gaps in the research—like areas where things are still evolving, or where the tech is moving faster than the theories.

Doing this helped me see where my own research sits. It clarified a lot of things and made me think deeper about what I’m actually trying to say. Writing it took some effort, but now I feel like I have a much clearer structure for the next stages of the project.

This week has been all about laying the groundwork for my literature review. Instead of jumping straight into writing, I focused on collecting, organising, and sorting through sources that directly connect with my research focus on how immersive environments and digital technologies influence identity.

I used a mix of academic databases and library search tools to gather relevant material, using targeted keywords like “digital identity,” “virtual self,” “VR and embodiment,” “online persona,” and “immersive technology.” I also filtered sources based on how closely they aligned with my chapter themes—philosophical perspectives, identity construction, psychological impacts, and tech-driven transformation.

To keep things structured, I began compiling a initial bibliography. For each source, I made brief notes on:

• What the text is about
• Why it’s relevant to my research
• Which chapter it may support
• Any key ideas or quotes to revisit later

At this point, I’m focusing more on learning more about the topic than analysing it deeply. The aim is to get a clear overview of the conversation around my topic so that next week, I can start identifying patterns, debates, and where my own argument fits in.

As I progress with my project, the focus is becoming sharper. My research question—how immersive digital technologies like VR, avatars, and online gaming contribute to the dissolution of personal identity—is now taking a more defined direction.

Initially, I was exploring the broader concepts of identity and technology from a philosophical and psychological angle. However, after refining my approach, I’ve shifted to focus more specifically on how gaming platforms and virtual environments play a central role in constructing and shaping digital identities. These spaces are not merely tools for entertainment; they’re environments where users engage in creating and evolving their virtual selves, often with much more depth than in traditional social media.

I plan to analyze how these spaces facilitate the creation of avatars, and the psychological effects of spending significant time in these immersive worlds.

The structure of my project is now fully outlined, with six chapters that explore the various ways in which technology and virtual environments shape identity. I’m particularly excited to explore topics like digital identity construction and virtual embodiment within the context of gaming.

These chapters will examine how people build and perform their online personas and how the immersive nature of new technology can cause the boundaries between physical and virtual identity to blur.

In the coming weeks, I’ll focus on gathering academic sources and psychological theories related to immersion and identity formation. My goal is to explore how avatar customization impacts the way players perceive and connect with their digital selves, ultimately leading to a shift in identity.