1. Enhancing vocational training in corrections: A type 1 hybrid randomized controlled trial protocol for evaluating virtual reality job interview training among returning citizens preparing for community re-entry.
- Author
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Smith MJ, Mitchell JA, Blajeski S, Parham B, Harrington MM, Ross B, Sinco B, Brydon DM, Johnson JE, Cuddeback GS, Smith JD, Jordan N, Bell MD, McGeorge R, Kaminski K, Suganuma A, and Kubiak SP
- Abstract
The Michigan Department of Corrections operates the Vocational Villages, which are skilled trades training programs set within prisons that include an immersive educational community using virtual reality, robotics, and other technologies to develop employable trades. An enhancement to the Vocational Villages could be an evidence-based job interview training component. Recently, we conducted a series of randomized controlled trials funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality job interview training (VR-JIT). The results suggested that the use of VR-JIT was associated with improved job interview skills and a greater likelihood of receiving job offers within 6 months. The primary goal of this study is to report on the protocol we developed to evaluate the effectiveness of VR-JIT at improving interview skills, increasing job offers, and reducing recidivism when delivered within two Vocational Villages via a randomized controlled trial and process evaluation. Our aims are to: (1) evaluate whether services-as-usual in combination with VR-JIT, compared to services-as-usual alone, enhances employment outcomes and reduces recidivism among returning citizens enrolled in the Vocational Villages; (2) evaluate mechanisms of employment outcomes and explore mechanisms of recidivism; and (3) conduct a multilevel, mixed-method process evaluation of VR-JIT implementation to assess the adoptability, acceptability, scalability, feasibility, and implementation costs of VR-JIT., Competing Interests: Dr. Matthew Smith will receive royalties on sales of an adapted, unpublished (at the time of this submission) version of virtual reality job interview training (VR-JIT) that will focus on meeting the needs of transition-age youth with autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Smith's research on the effectiveness of the adapted version of VR-JIT is independent of the protocol proposed in this manuscript that will be evaluating the original version of VR-JIT. No other authors report any conflicts of interest., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.)
- Published
- 2020
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