ERIC Number: EJ1409163
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1094-3501
Available Date: N/A
Using Immersive Virtual Reality for the Assessment of Intercultural Conflict Mediation
Naoko Taguchi
Language Learning & Technology, v27 n3 p108-128 2023
This exploratory study adopted immersive virtual reality (VR) technology to develop a task assessing college students' intercultural competence, specifically their ability to mediate an intercultural conflict. Participants were 22 students enrolled in the intercultural communication class in a U.S. university. They first completed a pre-conflict mediation task using a VR platform following three steps: (a) reading a scenario describing a conflict situation between people from different cultures; (b) observing two people having a conflict in a 360-degree VR video; and (c) mediating the conflict on the-spot by proposing a solution to the conflict. After completing the pre-task, they attended two class sessions (75 minutes each) that aimed to develop their conflict mediation skills. After the sessions, they completed a post conflict mediation task following the same steps as the pre task. A comparison between the pre- and post-task performance revealed significant gains in conflict mediation skills assessed on five dimensions: social initiative, empathy, perspective-taking, solution, and clarity in discourse. Survey data showed that the VR task evoked realistic emotions from witnessing a conflict, which in turn prompted the participants to take initiative in mediating the conflict.
Descriptors: Computer Simulation, Evaluation, Intercultural Communication, Mediation Theory, Conflict Resolution, Vignettes, Role Playing, Emotional Response, College Students, Higher Education, Capstone Experiences
National Foreign Language Resource Center at University of Hawaii. 1859 East-West Road #106, Honolulu, HI 96822. e-mail: llt@hawaii.edu; Web site: https://www.lltjournal.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A