Implementation fidelity of an evidence-centered maker education intervention in a virtual world for neurodiverse adolescents

Abstract

Intervention research is frequently hindered by a lack of attention to implementation fidelity. The success or failure of treatments relies heavily on whether they were implemented as intended. This is particularly important when studying vulnerable populations. This paper reports on the implementation fidelity of a virtual world (VW) intervention designed for neurodiverse individuals to exercise computational thinking skills through making. Twelve neurodiverse participants partook in the VW-based program, totaling 108 contact hours. Fidelity of implementation was operationalized along the dimensions of adherence to design, exposure, quality, and participant responsiveness. Results suggest that the program was implemented with high fidelity, with specific results indicating elements of program implementation that are particularly important when considering the human-computer interaction between neurodiverse populations and VWs in educational contexts. This paper provides valuable insight into the design and implementation of VW technology in maker education interventions involving neurodiverse populations.