On the Role of Avatars in Argumentation

The use of avatars in shared virtual spaces provides a useful vehicle with which people can present themselves in the way they choose. These avatars can also shape the behaviour of individuals, and their interactions with groups of users. Here, we make the case that there is scope for investigation into how avatars impact argumentation in virtual spaces, particularly how they alter the types of argumentation tactics that are used, and discuss some of the challenges that need to be addressed when researching this area.