Examining the Effects of a Job Entry Intervention

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The current study will examine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) intervention entitled Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT) as well as a newly developed Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (VR-STRIDE) with adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Detailed Description
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The current study will examine the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) intervention entitled IMPRoving Expression of Skills and Strengths In Interviewing in a Virtual Environment (IMPRESSIVE) which targets social competency skills needed for successful job interviewing. Specifically, 2 VR tools are utilized in the IMPRESSIVE intervention. The first tool is VR-Job Interview Training (VR-JIT), a VR program which offers the opportunity for repeated practice with a virtual human interviewer. Preliminary evidence suggests that the VR-JIT is successful in adults with ASD1 and schizophrenia14 in improving interview abilities. However, the efficacy of VR-JIT has not been evaluated in adolescents with ASD. This represents a significant void in our knowledge, as we do not know whether this program is effective for youth. In addition to VR-JIT, a newly developed VR tool is included in the currently proposed intervention: the Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (VR-STRIDE). KF-STRIDE is focused on improving the ability to express personal strengths during the job interview, a skill that is not taught with VR-JIT. The proposed IMPRESSIVE intervention, which combines the learning of 2 critical abilities (social skills and strength identification), has never been examined in individuals with ASD. Thus, the current proposal will be the first to examine the efficacy of these 2 combined tools in this at-risk population.

Official Title
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Examining the Effects of a Job Entry Intervention

Conditions
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Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism, ASD

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: VR-JIT/KF-STRIDE


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnoses of ASD or am a typically developing adolescent Able to speak and read English fluently Exclusion Criteria: History of stroke, traumatic brain injury, or any other neurological injury or disease History of significant psychiatric illness (bipolar, schizophrenia or psychosis) Uncontrolled seizures Any other unstable medical complications

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT) & character strength training (KF-STRIDE)
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Treatment group<br>Job interview training protocol for 12 sessions | Behavioral: VR-JIT/KF-STRIDE<br>* Treatment group will receive 12 sessions of job interview training protocol.<br>* Other names: Kessler Foundation STRength IDentification and Expression tool (KF-STRIDE);|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>No participation in any intervention protocol | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mock Job Interview Change | Mock Job Interview skills will be assessed by having blinded raters trained to assess job interviews scoring participants across a number of domains including expressing personal strengths and sounding professional. This rating scheme has been used in previous research (Smith et al., 2014; 2015), | 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Autism, ASD, Job reentry, Employment intervention, Virtual reality, VR