Category: Thesis

After receiving detailed feedback during the tutorial, I was able to clearly define the next steps and refine my thesis proposal effectively. One of my first actions was to rewrite the literature review, focusing on paraphrasing existing sources instead of using direct quotations. This helped reduce similarity concerns and allowed me to present the ideas more cohesively in my own words.

I also expanded my list of keywords related to digital identity, virtual environments, embodiment, and self-perception. Using these, I conducted a deeper search for academic articles and case studies to broaden the scope of my bibliography. This helped me situate my research within a wider academic context and strengthened the theoretical foundation of my work.

Revisiting the chapter structure was another key step. I reviewed and refined each chapter’s focus to ensure clearer alignment with the research question. This helped me create a more logical flow between chapters and sharpened the overall coherence of the proposal.

Following this, I completed a first draft of Chapter 1, “Identity in the Digital Age.” Writing this chapter gave me a solid base to build upon and helped translate my theoretical ideas into formal academic writing. The draft covers the evolution of identity, how digital technologies reshape it, and the emergence of fluid, multifaceted digital selves.

I am now identifying and reviewing more academic sources related to key themes such as digital embodiment, self-presentation on social media, and psychological impacts of virtual identities. This expanded reading will help frame my research within a wider academic context and provide stronger support for my arguments. Alongside this, I am refining my approach to thematic analysis to organize and critically assess the literature more effectively.

Additionally, I will develop a clearer and more detailed methodology section, outlining the theoretical and thematic analysis approaches that will guide my research. Throughout, I will ensure all claims and discussions are well-supported by academic evidence to avoid speculation and maintain a balanced argument.

The tutorial was very helpful in defining my next steps and refining my work. During the session, I received detailed and constructive feedback on my research project, which has helped me focus and improve it significantly.

Refining the Research Question
Nigel pointed out that my original research question leaned too much into speculative territory by suggesting people may eventually identify exclusively with their digital selves. To keep my research grounded in evidence, I revised the question to focus more broadly on how immersion in virtual environments and digital technologies influences an individual’s construction and perception of identity. This refinement keeps the scope manageable and researchable without making unsupported predictions.

Chapter Structure and Content Adjustments
The feedback advised me to remove speculative content from Chapter 6 and rename it to “Emerging Trends in Digital Identity and Selfhood,” which allows me to discuss current academic perspectives and observed developments without projecting too far into the future.

Improving Literature Review and Academic Context
Nigel emphasized expanding my literature review to cover broader academic theories, including identity theory, digital embodiment, social media’s role in self-presentation, and mental health impacts. This expansion will strengthen the foundation of my research by situating it within a wider scholarly conversation.

Reducing Direct Quotes and Enhancing Paraphrasing
One significant point was the high similarity score caused by too many direct quotations. Nigel recommended paraphrasing more to demonstrate critical understanding and provide more concise synthesis of sources. I will also focus on extracting key ideas rather than long quotations to keep the text flowing and original.

Clarifying Methodology
Another important area is methodology. Nigel advised me to clearly articulate that my research will be theoretical and literature-based, using critical and thematic analysis methods to interpret the findings from secondary sources. This clarity will help in structuring my approach and ensuring academic rigor.

Next Steps
Moving forward, I will:

• Further refine and finalize my research question.
• Expand and deepen my literature review with a wider range of academic sources.
• Paraphrase existing literature more effectively to reduce similarity scores.
• Rework Chapter 6 to focus on current trends rather than speculative futures.
• Clearly define my research methodology in my proposal.
• Add brief concluding sentences at the end of each chapter section to connect the content back to my research question.

This week’s lesson emphasized the importance of story and character in animation. A strong story isn’t just a series of events but involves conflict, a change catalyst, and pushing the protagonist out of their comfort zone. These elements drive character development and keep viewers engaged.

Character expression goes beyond dialogue—poses and gestures convey emotions and motivations instantly. Techniques like exaggeration and secondary actions (for example, stretched limbs or overshoot movements) enhance clarity and emotional impact, making scenes more dynamic and realistic.

We learned that having a character biography, even a brief one, is essential. It guides how a character moves and reacts based on their background and personality. Props can also add depth, making even abstract characters relatable by showing intentions through object interaction.

We also discussed the value of engaging with literature to gain multiple perspectives and deepen understanding. Constructive criticism helps improve ideas and artistic expression. Using quotations carefully supports precision, while descriptive writing can evoke the emotional atmosphere of a scene.

This week, we continued focusing on research methodologies, specifically the importance of maintaining a clear and logical connection—often called the “Golden Thread”—between the research aim, objectives, and goals. This alignment is key to ensuring the study is coherent and consistent.

The research aim is a broad statement explaining the overall purpose of the study. Research objectives break this down into specific, actionable steps that guide the methodology and analysis. These objectives should be focused, clear, and achievable within the scope of the project.

We also discussed the SMART framework for setting research goals, which means goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This helps keep the project practical and on track.

A useful tip shared was about note-taking: it’s important to clearly mark whether something is a direct quote or a paraphrase when gathering information. This helps prevent confusion later and ensures accurate referencing, avoiding accidental plagiarism.

In this week’s session, we revisited the basics of research methodology, focusing on the difference between primary (original) and secondary (existing) research. We were reminded about the importance of credibility and academic integrity when writing, especially the need to correctly cite all sources to avoid plagiarism or ethical issues.

We also learned key criteria for choosing sources: they should be accurate, relevant, consistent with the research focus, and neutral in tone. This helps keep the research clear, concise, and professional. Transparency is important too—for example, if surveys are used, details about participants and responses should be included for clarity.

The lesson also introduced the concept of “method” as the specific steps taken during research, such as data collection and analysis. We looked at different research approaches—quantitative and qualitative—and how each has its own philosophy and techniques. Understanding these helps in selecting the best method for a study.

An insightful video illustrated how frameworks (mental structures or perspectives) shape how we interpret information, using the example of a child identifying an animal based on previous experience. This showed how having the right frameworks is crucial to accurate understanding, both in research and everyday life.

Finally, we learned a practical way to find relevant frameworks for our research topics: start by identifying keywords, search for those combined with “framework,” then check academic sources to ensure validity. This approach helps find frameworks that are both easy to understand and academically credible.

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.

With the topic locked in, the next step is to build a clear structure that explores how deepening immersion in virtual environments and digital technologies is reshaping how we perceive and construct identity. The following chapter breakdown focuses on how tools, apps, and platforms influence this transformation—from digital self-curation to full immersion and emotional entanglement with digital selves.

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter sets the stage by introducing the research question and highlighting how the expansion of digital spaces—social media, gaming, VR platforms—has turned technology into more than just a medium. It’s now an active space where identity is created, tested, and often maintained. I’ll define key terms such as digital identity, virtual self, and self-dissolution, while positioning modern tech (from filters to full-body VR avatars) as environments where the line between real and digital selves is increasingly blurred.

Chapter 2: Philosophy of the Self in the Digital Age

This chapter will explore how digital technologies challenge traditional ideas of selfhood. Unlike fixed, physical identities, digital selves are fluid, customizable, and constantly updated. I’ll explore how platforms allow users to create multiple versions of themselves—some anonymous, some hyper-curated. I’ll tie in how modern platforms promote this fragmentation through features like alternate accounts, pseudonyms, and customizable interfaces.

Chapter 3: Digital Identity Construction

This chapter moves into how individuals actively shape their digital identities. What started with basic avatars or usernames has evolved into detailed, customizable representations backed by algorithmic feedback. I’ll explore how the interface itself guides this process, encouraging users to modify and change parts of themselves. Over time, repeated engagement with these characters or avatars builds a version of identity that can feel more present, more polished, and even more “real” than the physical self.

Chapter 4: Virtual Embodiment and Presence

This chapter focuses on what happens when individuals move beyond curating a persona to embodying one. Immersive technologies like VR and full-body tracking create a sense of virtual embodiment, where users begin to feel physically connected to their avatars. Games, social VR spaces, and metaverse-style platforms allow users to step into their digital selves—blurring the line between user and avatar. I’ll explore how this affects the sense of the physical body, and whether deep identification with a digital form leads to distancing from the real one. With high-resolution avatars, voice modulation, and motion tracking, users often start feeling more themselves inside digital bodies.

Chapter 5: Psychological Impacts of Immersion

This chapter investigates the psychological side of sustained digital immersion. Platforms are built to keep users engaged through systems of feedback—likes, shares, comments, levels, achievements—which reinforce digital behavior and persona construction. I’ll explore the emotional effects of relying on such validation and the mental impact of being constantly seen through the lens of a digital identity. Topics include digital dissociation (where the digital self feels more dominant than the physical one), online disinhibition (where anonymity shifts behavior), and how apps create pressure to maintain a particular version of self.

Chapter 6: The Future of Identity and Digitalisation

The final chapter looks ahead to where identity is going as tech becomes more immersive, intelligent, and integrated. With the growth of AI-generated avatars, deepfake technologies, neural interfaces, and persistent virtual spaces, identity may no longer be tied to the body at all. I’ll explore how emerging technologies could lead to people fully transitioning into digital spaces, living as avatars, or being represented by AI clones. The idea of a persistent virtual self—one that continues even when we’re not online—raises new questions about agency, autonomy, and authenticity. This chapter reflects on whether we are moving toward a post-physical self and what that might mean for future concepts of identity.

Each chapter builds on the last to show how users evolve from creating digital personas to potentially becoming them—guided by the tools, structures, and logics of the platforms they inhabit.