
Pediatric interventions often aim at functional enhancements through reestablishing previously learned behavior patterns or establishing new patterns of activity. Recent advances in virtual reality technologies allow for controlled presentations of emotionally engaging background narratives to assess and train cognitive processing, affective experience, and social interactions. Within this context virtual reality can allow instructors, therapists, neuropsychologists, and service providers to offer safe, repeatable, and diversifiable interventions that can benefit assessments and learning in both typically developing children and children with disabilities. Research has also pointed to virtual reality’s capacity to reduce children’s experience of aversive stimuli and reduce anxiety levels. While there are a number of purported advantages of virtual reality technologies, challenges have emerged. One challenge for this field of study is the need for establishing the psychometric properties of virtual reality assessments and interventions. Furthermore, a consensus statement and guidelines are needed for ideal use of virtual environments with children and adolescents. It is the working group’s consensus that investigations into these future research endeavors have the potential to inform policy, theory, and practices. Specifically, the addition of virtual reality platforms to pediatric assessments and interventions offers an opportunity for advancing our understanding of the cognitive, affective, psychosocial, and neural aspects of children as they take part in real-world activities.
WORKGROUP MEMBERS
Workgroup Chair

Thomas D. Parsons, PhD
Thomas D. Parsons, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Giuseppe Riva, PhD
Giuseppe Riva, PhD
Professor,
Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

Sarah Parsons, PhD
Sarah Parsons, PhD
Professor of Autism and Inclusion,
Southampton Education School, University of Southampton, UK

Fabrizia Mantovani, PhD
Fabrizia Mantovani, PhD
Professor, Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milan

Nigel Newbutt, PhD
Nigel Newbutt, PhD
Associate Head of Department,
Department of Arts and Cultural Industries, University of the West of England, UK

Lin Lin, PhD
Lin Lin, PhD
Associate Professor,
Department of Learning Technologies, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Eva Venturini, PhD
Eva Venturini, PhD
Research Fellow, Department of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milan, Italy

Trevor Hall, Psy.D.
Trevor Hall, Psy.D.
Assistant Professor,
Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, OR