Examining apparel design students’ self-efficacy towards using virtual reality in the design process

ABSTRACT Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology in garment design that has demonstrated promising student achievement results (Wyss et al., 2014 [Cotton Island: Students’ learning motivation using a virtual world. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 12(3), 219–232]). When educators and institutions adopt new technologies, they need to consider how the unfamiliar technology will affect student’s self-efficacy levels and to design lesson plans accordingly. Therefore, the purpose of this initial study is to examine students’ self-efficacy levels toward the adoption of VR as a design sketching tool. A multiple case study design was employed in this study. Eight undergraduate Apparel Design students enrolled in an Apparel Design course constituted the sample. Data were collected using a self-efficacy scale, and open-ended questions. The data examined levels of self-efficacy in VR use as well as factors that impacted those levels. The findings failed to show differences among factors that influence students’ self-efficacy in VR usage at each self-efficacy level. Based on the findings, research propositions were confirmed or modified, or were additionally proposed.