Evaluating the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Job Interview Training in A Prison-Based Employment Readiness Program

• In Event: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Employment Outcomes upon Re-Entry

Abstract

Objective: A recent prison-based pilot suggested that Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT, a zoom-like interview simulator with automated feedback) improved employment among returning citizens after their release (82% vs. 69%). The current RCT sought to confirm whether VR-JIT enhanced employment outcomes of a prison-based, trades-focused employment program (Vocational Villages).

Data/Methods: Participants (ages 21-61) were randomized into Vocational Villages services-as-usual (VV, n=35) or VV with VR-JIT (VV+VR-JIT, n=66). Local staff implemented VR-JIT. Logistic and Cox regressions determined whether VR-JIT improved employment within 6 months of release. Repeated measures analyses of variance determined whether VR-JIT improved job interview skills, interview anxiety, and interview motivation.


Results: VV+VR-JIT, compared with VV, were more likely to obtain employment (OR=2.8, p=.029) and sooner (HR=1.7, p=.035. VV+VR-JIT, compared with VV, improved their job interview skills, interview anxiety, and motivation to interview (all p<.05).


Conclusions/Implications: Notable improvements in employment rate and time-to-employment are critical outcomes that can elevate re-entry success for returning citizens. Although more research is needed to identify optimal VR-JIT delivery strategies in prisons and community programming, our results suggest corrections programming, returning citizens, and the community could benefit from VR-JIT.

Authors

• Matthew J. Smith, University of Michigan

• Jamie Mitchell, University of Michigan

• Brittani Parham, University of Michigan

• Meghan Harrington, University of Michigan

• Brittany Ross, University of Michigan

• Daphne Brydon, University of California, Los Angeles

• Jennifer E. Johnson, Michigan State University

• Aaron Suganuma, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office

• Justin D Smith, University of Utah

• Jane Burke-Miller, University of Illinois Chicago

• Neil Jordan, Northwestern University

• Morris Bell, Yale School of Medicine

• Kyle Kaminski, Michigan Department of Corrections

• Brian Friedman, Michigan Department of Corrections

• Daniel Seal, Michigan Department of Corrections

• Pamela Kryscio, Michigan Department of Corrections

• Sheryl Kubiak, Wayne State University