Development of Immersive 360° Virtual Reality Videos for Intervention with Test Anxiety

Abstract The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of 360-degree virtual reality videos on simulating test anxiety among students who already experience it. In this study, which used a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methodologies, various questions were asked of the students about their immersion in the virtual environment. Questions such as "How much did the visual elements of the environment draw you in?", "How convincing were the feelings that the video objects evoked?", "How quickly did you adapt to the virtual environment?", "How much did you feel involved in the virtual environment?" and "How deeply did you experience your senses during this encounter?" were asked. The study aimed to determine the level of interaction with the virtual world, the realism of the environment, and the intensity of emotional experiences in the simulated test environment by utilizing the insights and experiences of the students. The research was conducted with a cohort of seven students (four girls and three boys) who met the predetermined study criteria. The obtained data were subjected to content analysis to obtain meaningful insights. The findings revealed that exposure to virtual reality created an effective sense of reality among users. Participants who shared their experiences confirmed that 360-degree VR videos triggered test anxiety symptoms similar to those experienced during real tests, increasing their sense of immersion in the virtual environment. Users also stated that distressing emotions that are intensely experienced during real tests intensified similarly when they were exposed to 360-degree VR videos. In particular, individuals with test anxiety reported that unwanted emotions were stimulated more prominently through exposure to 360-degree VR videos compared to exposure based on imagination alone. In this context, exposure to 360-degree VR videos yielded expected results and showed potential to be a powerful tool, although not superior to in vivo (real-life) exposure.