Using Virtually Simulated Clients in Psychology Training

The aim of this project is to assess users’ experiences engaging with virtually simulated clients in psychology training. Specifically, we seek to investigate how the use of the virtual simulation influences students' understanding of course concepts, their level of interest and motivation, as well as their perceptions of the simulation's quality and relevance. Students from three units within the Masters of Organisational Psychology course at Macquarie University will be provided access to the virtual simulation and instructed to engage with it at their convenience. After their interaction with the simulation, students will be asked to complete a survey designed to gather feedback on various aspects of their experience (e.g., learning, level of interest, motivation, ease of use, and satisfaction). The data collected from student surveys will enable us to assess the impact of the virtual simulation on student learning and identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in the design and implementation of the virtual simulation. Overall, the findings will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the integration of virtual simulations in educational settings and provide evidence-based recommendations for their effective use in higher education environments.