A4 Refereed article in a conference publication
Assessing Virtual Reality Fire Extinguisher Training Effectiveness: A Quantitative Empirical Study
Authors: Kamal, Rida; Hossain, A. K. M. Ishtyak; Heilala, Janne; Kantola, Jussi
Editors: Salminen, Vesa
Conference name: International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics
Publication year: 2025
Journal: AHFE International
Book title : Human Factors, Business Management and Society: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics and the Affiliated Conferences, Orlando, Florida, USA 26-30 July 2025
Volume: 176
First page : 186
Last page: 196
eISBN: 978-1-964867-52-6
eISSN: 2771-0718
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1006316
Web address : https://doi.org/10.54941/ahfe1006316
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499683096
This study conducts a quantitative assessment based on empirical evidence to measure the effectiveness of virtual reality-based fire extinguisher training. The data were collected from 71 participants who first underwent virtual reality (VR) fire extinguisher training and then practical fire extinguisher training with a gap of one week between these sessions. After finishing the practical training, participants filled out a structured quantitative questionnaire evaluating five key aspects: Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Retention, Realism, Usability, and Engagement. To assess the effectiveness and identify the stronger predictor of the effectiveness, a quantitative analysis was conducted encompassing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. The findings from this research reveal that Engagement and Usability were ranked highest in terms of the effectiveness of VR training. Participants felt that for VR training Engagement and Usability enhanced their overall experience. Furthermore, Engagement and Usability had the strongest impact on the effectiveness of the overall training. Respondents also reflected on the insufficiency of the VR environment in relation to realism, emphasizing the need for advancements in this area. These results imply that VR is an effective, engaging, and usable tool for safety training, but that refinements in interactive fidelity are needed in order to boost learning outcomes. Future research may investigate realism enhancements and knowledge retention strategies to further optimize VR-based safety training programs.
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Funding information in the publication:
We are immensely thankful to Business Finland for making this research possible by funding this project. Special tribute goes to the late Ebo KwegyirAfful, whose invaluable contributions and enthusiasm were instrumental in shaping this work. We highly appreciate the participants for their time and effort, as their involvement was essential to the success of this study.
