Using digital/virtual escape rooms to measure team performance and cohesion of isolated multicultural teams

Abstract

Multicultural teams are difficult to study when they are put in a long-term physically isolated environment, necessitating alternatives for research. This study determines the validity and reliability of a virtual escape room that promoted a simulated, isolated environment according to 93% of the participants tested. The study tested 17 multicultural teams completing two levels of a publicly available desktop game on virtual escape rooms. A questionnaire measured perceived team performance, perceived cohesion, and cohesion. An overall performance score was found by combining total time to completion, number of hints used, and peers’ ratings. Correlation coefficients were all >0.2927 (p < 0.038) and suggest that the escape room game is valid and reliable for performance and cohesion assessment. These findings allow isolated multicultural teams to be researched in an easily accessible setting, which can ultimately optimize their success before they enter isolated environments.