Effectiveness of VR-based training on improving occupants’ response and preparedness for active shooter incidents

Abstract

Effective training for preparing building occupants for active shooter incidents is essential to reduce harm and fatalities. Virtual Reality (VR) technology has been increasingly used as a promising training method in many applications including emergency preparedness. However, previous studies for active shooter incidents have mainly focused on developing VR-based training prototypes. Thus, the effectiveness of VR-based training for active shooter incidents has yet to be rigorously studied. This study focuses on the effectiveness of VR-based training for active shooter preparedness compared to traditional training methods and investigates the factors behind the improved performance. To study the effectiveness of VR-based training, a total of 108 participants were recruited to experience video-based training, VR-based training with low interactivity, and VR-based training with high interactivity. Both objective and subjective measures were assessed. The results show that VR-based training is more effective than video-based training in improving participants’ response performance and perceived preparedness for active shooter incidents. The immersion and interactivity of the VR-based training contribute to performance. Participants without previous training experience benefit more from VR-based training than participants who previously had received some training to prepare for active shooter incidents.