Publication Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

York, Cindy S.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment (ETRA)

Abstract

Workplace learning was profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the effects of the pandemic was the shift to work-from-home arrangements for eligible workers. It is anticipated that work-from-home arrangements will permanently remain above pre-COVID levels. Previous studies have identified the potential of using virtual reality (VR) for certain types of training, including workplace safety, soft skills, and virtual tours. However, VR has not been thoroughly investigated in a work-from-home setting, especially within the context of a global pandemic. Additionally, while much of the literature concentrates on the experiences of learners in VR, relatively few studies have included instructors and leaders as participants. A qualitative, descriptive case study design was implemented to investigate the experiences of participants using immersive VR for workplace learning in an authentic remote work setting. A total of 13 participants completed the study. Participants were selected from three populations: sales trainees, sales instructors, and sales leaders. Each participant completed an observation session and an interview session. The remote observation session consisted of participants taking a virtual tour using an immersive VR device. Following the observation session, participants completed a 45-minute semi-structured interview, where they were asked to recap their experiences and describe the benefits and drawbacks of using immersive VR for workplace learning in a remote work setting. Findings from the study largely confirmed previous research regarding the benefits of using immersive VR for workplace learning. Participants experienced a sense of presence, of “being there” in the virtual environment, without having to travel to the physical facility. Participants also described a sense of sensory immersion. Further, participants also found the immersive VR tour to be enjoyable. The study findings also identified several drawbacks of using immersive VR. Participants expressed concerns that the immersive VR content would induce cybersickness. Sales instructors identified drawbacks not observed by other populations, such as the need to provide technical support in a remote setting. Sales leaders also identified novel concerns relating to the suitability of participants’ home workspaces for immersive VR and the potential loss of social connections. Findings from this study have implications for organizations considering the implementation of immersive VR for workplace learning. Additionally, the study findings indicate that learning and development practitioners must carefully consider potential restrictions on designing VR environments should their organizations elect to implement VR training.

Extent

376 pages

Language

en

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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