Exploring Ethical Decision-Making in Autonomous Vehicles Through Virtual Reality Simulations

Thesis Abstract

The rapid advancement of autonomous vehicle technology has heightened the need to understand the ethical dimensions underpinning decision-making processes within these systems, particularly as they impact human safety and societal norms. This study investigates how ethical decision-making in autonomous vehicles can be better understood and assessed through immersive virtual reality (VR) simulations, aiming to address the gap in empirical research on the influence of moral dilemmas and user perceptions in simulated autonomous driving scenarios. The primary objective of this research is to explore the factors that influence ethical judgments made by users during simulated autonomous vehicle encounters involving moral dilemmas and to identify the cognitive and emotional processes underpinning these decisions. Specific objectives include examining the role of demographic variables, moral intuitions, and technological familiarity on decision outcomes; assessing the effect of VR immersion levels on users’ ethical judgments; and evaluating the applicability of established ethical theories—such as Kantian ethics and utilitarianism—in framing user responses. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study collates quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The population comprises 300 licensed drivers aged 18 to 65, recruited through stratified random sampling from urban regions with high autonomous vehicle deployment. Quantitative data are collected via structured questionnaires that measure moral reasoning, technology acceptance, and emotional responses, alongside VR simulation sessions where participants navigate moral dilemmas, such as choosing between passenger safety and pedestrian protection. The VR scenarios are designed based on real-world case studies and incorporate varying levels of immersion to examine their impact on decision-making. Qualitative data are gathered through semi-structured interviews post-simulation to explore participants’ reasoning processes, moral intuitions, and perceptions of autonomous vehicle ethics. Data analysis employs multiple statistical techniques, including regression analysis to identify predictors of ethical decision outcomes, ANOVA to compare responses across demographic groups and immersion levels, and thematic analysis to interpret qualitative interview data. The study also applies the Theory of Planned Behavior to contextualize decision-making processes and examines the congruence of user responses with Kantian and utilitarian principles through content analysis. Expected findings indicate that demographic factors such as age and technological familiarity significantly influence moral judgments, with higher immersion levels in VR leading to more emotionally grounded and ethically consistent decisions. The research anticipates a nuanced understanding of how users’ moral intuitions align or conflict with formal ethical frameworks, and how immersive simulation can serve as a tool for ethical training and policy development. These insights are expected to reveal gaps in current autonomous vehicle ethical guidelines, emphasizing the role of emotional engagement and user perceptions in autonomous decision-making. This study makes a substantial contribution to the field by empirically evaluating the effectiveness of VR as an ethical assessment tool and by integrating moral philosophy with user experience research to inform ethical guidelines for autonomous vehicles. The findings are expected to inform policymakers, vehicle manufacturers, and ethicists on designing morally acceptable autonomous driving systems that resonate with societal values and user expectations. The research concludes with recommendations for integrating VR-based ethical assessments into vehicle certification processes, advocating for further exploration of emotional and contextual factors influencing autonomous vehicle decisions, and proposing avenues for future longitudinal studies. The study underscores the importance of multi-disciplinary approaches—combining philosophy, cognitive science, and technology—to address the complex ethical challenges of autonomous vehicle deployment in society.