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ERIC Number: EJ1358833
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Jan
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3148
Virtual Reality to Foster Empathy in Disability Workers: A Feasibility Study during COVID-19
Wilding, Clare; Young, Kimberleigh; Cummins, Caroline; Bowler, Craig; Dean, Trent; Lakhani, Ali; Blackberry, Irene
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v36 n1 p132-142 Jan 2023
Background: Empathy is a critical skill required by disability workers. Virtual reality may increase access to staff training to foster empathy. Method: A mixed methods feasibility study investigated a custom-built virtual reality program, IMercyVE, which aimed to immerse a disability worker in a first-person perspective of having intellectual disability. Data were collected through online surveys (n = 9) completed before and after use of IMercyVE, and by videoconference focus groups (n = 6). Results: Qualitative findings included that IMercyVE delivered a novel experience for participants and a distinctive mode of learning that assisted participants to deepen their levels of empathy. Descriptive analyses of the surveys indicated that participants' empathy increased after engaging with IMercyVE. Conclusions: IMercyVE has the potential to be offered as a remotely delivered and flexible staff training modality suitable for building empathy. Further research with a larger sample is warranted.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A