Anand Van Zelderen: Experimental Vignette Methodologies: From Text to Virtual Reality

In this workshop I will illustrate the benefits of using virtual reality (VR) in experimental research in comparison to traditional research approaches relying on text-based vignettes. Examples will be provided of VR studies across various research domains (e.g., inter-group conflict, assessment, HRM, leadership, ethics, future of work) to demonstrate the scope of possibilities that VR provides. Attendents will be encouraged to consider ways to innovate their own research methods and discuss these during the workshop.

Anand van Zelderen is an Assistant Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Business at SKEMA Business School. His research examines the socio-emotional costs that surface when employees interact with autonomous AI agents. A pioneer in experimental management research, he is among the first to develop synthetic field studies, an approach that integrates AI and Virtual Reality to create lifelike organizational simulations that capture real behaviors while preserving experimental control. To democratize access to these tools, he founded the Openverse Open Science Initiative, an interdisciplinary collaboration of more than 70 scholars around the world. Through his research and education, Anand aims to shape a human-centric future of work where emerging technologies are integrated ethically, inclusively, and sustainably into organizations and society.