Author

Elyse Hayes

Date of Award

5-2023

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Biological Sciences BS

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Jerry R. Alliston, Ph.D.

Advisor Department

Interdisciplinary Studies

Abstract

This study used a between-subjects repeated measures design to determine the efficacy of virtual reality job interview training (VR-JIT) as an instrument for providing workplace readiness training under pre-ETS when compared to current real-world methods. Of the total participants (N=19), 57.89% were male and 42.11% were female, and autism (36.84%) and cognitive impairment (47.37%) were the most frequently reported diagnoses. The results of a paired samples T-test were non-significant with t (8) = 0.13, p = 0.9029 with the use of mock interviews and t (9) = 0.68, p = .5156 with the use of virtual reality. The results of an independent samples T-test of posttest VR-JIT and traditional methods scores were non-significant with t (17) = -0.13, p = 0.9002. Therefore, we conclude that neither traditional mock-interview methods nor VR-JIT produce significant differences between pre- and post-test evaluations, and there is no significant difference between results of VR-JIT and traditional methods. Despite these findings, student engagement and positive feedback within the VR-JIT group were notably increased compared to traditional methods. Future research of VR-JIT across a longer period and within alternative settings is warranted.

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