Virtual Reality Training to Enhance Child Protection Skills in Social Work Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Last registered on November 10, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Virtual Reality Training to Enhance Child Protection Skills in Social Work Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0016920
Initial registration date
November 06, 2025

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
November 10, 2025, 9:25 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Jan-Oliver Kutza
Affiliation
Hochschule Osnabrück
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Michael Rau
PI Affiliation
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
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PI Name
Patrick Werth
PI Affiliation
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
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PI Name
Christof Radewagen
PI Affiliation
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
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PI Name
Julius Schöning
PI Affiliation
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
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PI Name
Jan-David Liebe
PI Affiliation
University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-11-27
End date
2026-03-31
Keywords
Crime, Violence, & Conflict, Education, Welfare
Additional Keywords
virtual reality, child endangerment, child neglect, social work
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Background: Social workers often face the challenge of identifying indicators of child maltreatment in complex domestic environments. Practical, simulation-based training may enhance observational and diagnostic skills. Virtual reality (VR) technology offers an immersive, scalable, and controlled learning environment. This study investigates whether VR-based training improves the ability of social work students to assess potential child endangerment in a real-world setting.
Methods: A randomized controlled superiority trial will be conducted involving 40+ students enrolled in a social work degree program. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Both groups receive standard instruction on child endangerment; only the intervention group receives additional VR-based simulation training. Following the intervention, all participants assess a standardized real-life apartment replica. Key outcomes include detection accuracy, decision-making confidence, perceived self-efficacy, and training experience quality. Data will be analyzed using standard RCT statistical principles.
Discussion: If effective, this training protocol could support the development of immersive educational tools for social work training programs, enhancing student preparedness and safeguarding practices.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Kutza, Jan-Oliver et al. 2025. "Virtual Reality Training to Enhance Child Protection Skills in Social Work Education: A Randomized Controlled Trial." AEA RCT Registry. November 10. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.16920-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The intervention is based on a virtual environment that can be accessed via a VR headset. It is used for training purposes to improve skills in assessing domestic violence against children.
Before the initial use of the intervention, the intervention group is introduced to the use of VR headsets to ensure that all participants are familiar with the controls and the digital environment.
The intervention group then undergoes the VR intervention. The control group does not receive any separate input. Both the intervention and control groups have already received theoretical content as part of their study program curriculum.
Intervention Start Date
2025-12-10
Intervention End Date
2025-12-16

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Effectiveness of VR-interventions for training purposis in higher education to improve skills
Learner satisfaction
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
The effectiveness of the VR intervention is measured by comparing the calculated scores of the participants (intervention/control group), which is based on the recognition rate (correctly identified indicators vs. total number of indicators/incorrectly identified indicators), speed (time required to make a reasoned risk assessment), and final assessment ( agreement between the risk assessment and the risk portrayed in the scenario).
The learner satisfaction will be measured by incoporating an adapted Learner Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQa). This will only be assessed for the intervention group.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Stress, Metacognition, Presence, User Experience
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
Stress will be measured by incorporating the Short Stress State Questionnaire in German (SSSQ-G). It is used to measure the stress levels of participants during the task to be performed.
Metacognition (meta-d'/d')​ is calculated by generating a score from the identified indicators (correct/incorrect) and the self-rated confidence in the correctness of the indicator assessment.
Presence will be measured by incorporating an adapted version of the iGroup Presence Questionnaire in German (IPQ). This will only be assessed for the intervention group.
User Experience will be measured by incorporating the User Experience Questionnaire short in German (UEQs). This will only be assessed for the intervention group.

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
A randomized control trial design will be incorporated. Participants are divided into an intervention group and a control group. The control group receives no further intervention beyond the curricular input. An experimental risk assessment, which all participants must complete, is used to determine whether the additional input received by the intervention group has an effect on the dependent variables.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization will be performed in office by a computer. The assignment of pseudonymizations will be performed by a scientist that is not involved in data collection or evaluation.
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
N/A
Sample size: planned number of observations
52 Students, 26 control participants, 26 intervention participants
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
26 students
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Convinience sampling will be performed. Sample size is being calculated with G*Power Software Version 3.1.9.7. The target sample size is 52, based on a t-test family, examination of two independent groups, two tails, effect size = 0.8, ɑ = 0.05, power = 0.80, and allocation ratio N2/N1 = 1.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Ethics Council, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences
IRB Approval Date
2025-09-29
IRB Approval Number
HSOS/2025/1/7
Analysis Plan