How does the method change what we measure? Comparing virtual reality and text-based surveys for the assessment of moral decisions in traffic dilemmas

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223108
• Publication Date: 2019-10-09T17:27:31Z
• Authors: Leon René Sütfeld; Benedikt V. Ehinger; Peter König; Gordon Pipa
• Keywords: Abstraction

The question of how self-driving cars should behave in dilemma situations has recently attracted a lot attention science, media and society. A growing number publications amass insight into the factors underlying choices we make such situations, often using forced-choice paradigms closely linked to trolley dilemma. methodology used address these questions, however, varies widely between studies, ranging from fully immersive virtual reality settings completely text-based surveys. In this paper compare assessments, analyzing effect that different have on decisions emotional response participants. We present two comparing total six conditions varying across three dimensions: level abstraction, use reality, time-constraints. Our results show moral made context are not strongly influenced by assessment, compared methods ultimately appear measure very similar constructs. Furthermore, add pool evidence judgment traffic dilemmas, both terms general preferences, i.e., features particular situation potential victims, as well individual differences participants, their age gender.