A Preliminary Study on the Use of Second Life for Career Counseling

Abstract

The present study intends to explore the potential of Second Life as compared to traditional face-to-face and internet counseling practices for university counseling. Different spaces and avatars have been constructed in Second Life to support university students’ exploration of their career choices in a virtual environment. The perceptions of 45 university students with regards to their preference and perceived potential of different counseling channels as well as factors affecting their choice were collected. As evidenced in the study though Second Life is least preferred by the respondents when seeking counseling, its potential is well received. Suggestions for future developments are provided.