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Authenticity in virtual reality for assessment and intervention in Autism: a conceptual review

Authenticity in virtual reality for assessment and intervention in Autism: a conceptual review
Authenticity in virtual reality for assessment and intervention in Autism: a conceptual review
Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have shown potential for learning and assessment for children, adolescents, and adults with autism. Much of the research in this area has taken a conceptual stance of veridicality; that is, that VR offers promise because it can provide authenticity and levels of realism alongside stimulus or environmental control, or both, which may first facilitate learning and the generalization of skills to the real world, and secondly can provide experimental contexts with strong ecological validity for assessment. This conceptual review raises questions about the assumption of veridicality of VR for autism research by examining research literature that has used VR to support learning and to investigate social responding. In so doing, it provides a framework for examining the assumed relationship between virtual and real contexts in order to highlight particular features of design and interaction, as well as background characteristics of participants, that may help or hinder learning and understanding in VEs. The conclusions suggest there is a need for the field to systematically examine the different factors that influence responding in VR in order to understand when, and under what circumstances, the responses of individuals with autism can be considered appropriately authentic. There are also opportunities for thinking more radically about research directions through focusing on the strengths and preferences of people with autism, and promoting more participatory and inclusive approaches to research.
1747-938X
138-157
Parsons, Sarah
5af3382f-cda3-489c-a336-9604f3c04d7d
Parsons, Sarah
5af3382f-cda3-489c-a336-9604f3c04d7d

Parsons, Sarah (2016) Authenticity in virtual reality for assessment and intervention in Autism: a conceptual review. Educational Research Review, 19, 138-157. (doi:10.1016/j.edurev.2016.08.001).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) technologies have shown potential for learning and assessment for children, adolescents, and adults with autism. Much of the research in this area has taken a conceptual stance of veridicality; that is, that VR offers promise because it can provide authenticity and levels of realism alongside stimulus or environmental control, or both, which may first facilitate learning and the generalization of skills to the real world, and secondly can provide experimental contexts with strong ecological validity for assessment. This conceptual review raises questions about the assumption of veridicality of VR for autism research by examining research literature that has used VR to support learning and to investigate social responding. In so doing, it provides a framework for examining the assumed relationship between virtual and real contexts in order to highlight particular features of design and interaction, as well as background characteristics of participants, that may help or hinder learning and understanding in VEs. The conclusions suggest there is a need for the field to systematically examine the different factors that influence responding in VR in order to understand when, and under what circumstances, the responses of individuals with autism can be considered appropriately authentic. There are also opportunities for thinking more radically about research directions through focusing on the strengths and preferences of people with autism, and promoting more participatory and inclusive approaches to research.

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Parsons Authenticity of VR for autism ERR author accepted 13th August 2016.pdf - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 12 August 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 15 August 2016
Published date: November 2016

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 399407
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/399407
ISSN: 1747-938X
PURE UUID: 783d2808-4b1c-46bb-bfb1-5ff39031a28c
ORCID for Sarah Parsons: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2542-4745

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Date deposited: 15 Aug 2016 15:23
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 05:48

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