Check this amazing blog: https://blog.bfh.ch/transformative/2018/01/01/transformation-defined/
Or read below (if you are lazy ;-)):
Image: The use of the word “transformative” in the literature over the last century (data from Google).
The name of this blog and my MA-project imply that it is possible to create transformative experiences in virtual reality. But before the necessary conditions for such an experience can be investigated, it is important to be clear about the definition of the word “transformative”. The term has only recently been introduced into design disciplines, but has long been used in the social sciences and in paedagogy. The general meaning might be similar and adhere to the definition in the dictionary, (“transformative: causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something” (1)), but depending on context, there are some important differences which have to be clarified in order to avoid criticism on the use of the term in the context of designing a VR experience.
In the pedagogical context, the term transformative experience has been introduced in the early 2000’s by a research group of the Deweyan Ideas Group at Michigan State University “Transformative experiences have been defined as those experiences in which students actively use science concepts to see and experience their everyday world in meaningful, new ways” (2) . This perspective on education builds on the ideas of John Dewey (1859-1952) who highlights the role of individual’s interactions with the real world. Furthermore, it draws similarities to sociocultural and feminist perspectives on science education, which include the role of context, language and participation in learning. Transformative experiences are defined by an engagement of the students and a transfer of concepts into the real world. According to this definition, these experiences are not very common and their appearance is hard to predict. But Pugh insists that “Although it may not be immediately attainable for all students, we believe that transformative experiences for all is a worthwhile goal”.
In the broader field of social sciences, the philosopher Laurie Ann Paul introduced a different definition of the term in her book by the same name “transformative experience” in 2014 (3). Her theory drew huge attention as it implied broad consequences for the whole field of causation. In short: We cannot objectively decide whether a new experience is worth having or not as we lack the ability to imagine something that we haven’t experienced before, and any attempt to do so is doomed to fail. Her take is exemplified by a new approach to the thought experiment of Mary, who sees color for the first time in her life: “Once she has this knowledge, she is able to imagine and envision what it is like to see color, and to model her responses”.
Paul goes on to say, that this principle can be applied to all experiences, from the small and less important (like to eat a fruit we have never tasted before), to big and life-changing decisions (like the question if it is worth to have a child). The first example is described as an “epistemically transformative experience”, the latter as a “personally transformative experience”, which might even change „what it is like for you to be you“. Paul’s theory drew criticism from scholars who debated that it is possible to rely on the experiences of others for informed decision making (4), but the term itself is now used frequently in this definition in the social sciences.
Before entering the discussion of the term in the design field, it is important to draw the difference between the noun transformation and the adjective transformative. The noun is used much broader (transformation: A marked change in form, nature, or appearance (5)) and has been part of the english language for centuries. The adjective on the other hand, has only been used over the last three decades and is defined much narrower, as stated above. This distinction is important in order to separate transformative experiences from transformation design. The latter is a design discipline which first appeared in the early 2000’s and now has become much more prevalent in study programs and publications. Its general philosophy is to “turn away from the user-centred design approach (…) towards a society-centred attitude instead, explicitely focusing on the social dimensions and conditions of designing” (6). While clearly relevant, Transformation Design is not a focus of my project.
The definition I will adhere to in the following stages of my project stems from a publication by Andrea Gaggioli who defines a Transformative Experience Design framework: “experiences designed to facilitate an epistemic expansion through the (controlled) alteration of sensorial, perceptual, cognitive and affective processes”. This definition draws heavily from the work by L.A. Paul, but only includes “epistemically transformative experience” as it does not require to be life-changing, something that I will not aspire to elicit in my work. As the planned experience will mainly be used by students, it makes sense to include the main idea introduced by Pugh (a transfer of concepts into the real world) and hope that they can see the practical implications of the scientific background that is transmitted in the experience.
One final thought, which I might elaborate on later, is the following: For users who have never before been exposed to a virtual reality experience, the act itself may constitute an epistemically transformative experience. It might cause a need for accommodation not because of the content but because of the novelty of the medium. This aspect would make it that much harder to evaluate the extent to which the content generated for our experience is valuable or, according to Gaggioli’s definition, transformative.
(1) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transformative
(2) Pugh, K. J., Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., Koskey, K. L. K., Stewart, V. C., & Manzey, C. (2009). Motivation, learning, and transformative experience: A study of deep engagement in science. Science Education, n/a-n/a. http://doi.org/10.1002/sce.20344
(3) Paul, L. A. (2014).Transformative Experience. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 16.(4) Dougherty, T., Horowitz, S., & Sliwa, P. (2015). Expecting the Unexpected Tom Dougherty, Sophie Horowitz and Paulina Sliwa 1, 1–23.
(5) https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/transformation
(6) Wolfgang Jonas, Sarah Zerwas, K. von A. (Ed.). (2016).Transformation Design. Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag AG, 9.
(7) Gaggioli, A. (2016). Transformative Experience Design. In I. V.-D. Andrea Gaggioli, Alois Ferscha, Giuseppe Riva, Stephen Dunne (Ed.),Human Computer Confluence Transforming Human Experience Through Symbiotic Technologies(pp. 97–121). De Gruyter.
The last one is my professor’s chapter!!!!! Check it here.
I suggest to keep an eye on this blog!
AWE 