Assessing the feasibility of automated virtual reality training of functional analysis procedures for preservice clinicians

Effective training in functional analysis is essential in applied behavior analysis, yet traditional methods may not include adequate practice opportunities. Researchers evaluated an automated virtual reality (VR) simulation designed to teach novice clinicians to implement functional analysis procedures. Six participants completed immersive VR training with automated prompting followed by baseline probe, feedback, and treatment-extension phases. Two participants achieved mastery through VR training alone, whereas four required brief feedback to reach criterion. Immediate performance improvements were observed across participants, and those receiving feedback continued to display mastery-level performance in live role plays during a treatment extension. Results suggest that VR training may enhance procedural fidelity in functional analysis protocols while reducing training risks. Findings support VR as a promising tool for scalable, safe, and effective training in applied behavior analysis practices.