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Effect of Physical Fidelity and Immersion Level on Learning Experiences and Outcomes in VR-Based Fire-Safety Education

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Title: Effect of Physical Fidelity and Immersion Level on Learning Experiences and Outcomes in VR-Based Fire-Safety Education
Language: English
Authors: Wenhao Li (ORCID 0000-0003-3434-9705), Li Qian (ORCID 0000-0002-8187-5487), Xin Wang, Qiyun Wang
Source: Journal of Educational Computing Research. 2026 64(5):1294-1322.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 29
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Computer Simulation, Computer Uses in Education, Sensory Experience, Student Experience, Difficulty Level, Cognitive Processes, Learning Motivation, Knowledge Level, Fire Protection, Safety Education, Program Effectiveness, College Students, Fidelity, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1177/07356331261429313
ISSN: 0735-6331
1541-4140
Abstract: While virtual reality (VR) has great educational potential, current implementations predominantly emphasize audiovisual simulations, neglecting olfactory and haptic stimuli and thereby compromising the physical fidelity of VR learning environments. Meanwhile, conflicting findings on the impact of immersion level on learning outcomes, coupled with limited research exploring the interaction between physical fidelity and immersion level, have impeded the widespread adoption of VR in education. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of physical fidelity (multisensory stimuli vs. no multisensory stimuli) and immersion level (immersive VR vs. desktop VR) on learning experiences (cognitive load, learning motivation, and quality of experience) and outcomes (procedural, factual, and conceptual knowledge) in VR-based fire-safety education. A two-by-two factorial experiment was conducted with 120 Chinese university students. The results showed that multisensory stimuli significantly reduced the intrinsic cognitive load of learners. Immersive VR surpassed desktop VR for bolstering learning motivation, particularly in terms of attention, relevance, and satisfaction. Physical fidelity and immersion level have significant interaction effects on long-term retention of conceptual knowledge and satisfaction. Incorporating multisensory stimuli into immersive VR enhances the quality of experience. Our findings have significant implications and value for the application of multisensory stimuli and VR technology in education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506848
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Effect of Physical Fidelity and Immersion Level on Learning Experiences and Outcomes in VR-Based Fire-Safety Education
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wenhao+Li%22">Wenhao Li</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3434-9705">0000-0003-3434-9705</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li+Qian%22">Li Qian</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8187-5487">0000-0002-8187-5487</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xin+Wang%22">Xin Wang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qiyun+Wang%22">Qiyun Wang</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Educational+Computing+Research%22"><i>Journal of Educational Computing Research</i></searchLink>. 2026 64(5):1294-1322.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 29
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Simulation%22">Computer Simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Uses+in+Education%22">Computer Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sensory+Experience%22">Sensory Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Difficulty+Level%22">Difficulty Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Processes%22">Cognitive Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Motivation%22">Learning Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+Level%22">Knowledge Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fire+Protection%22">Fire Protection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Safety+Education%22">Safety Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fidelity%22">Fidelity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/07356331261429313
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0735-6331<br />1541-4140
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: While virtual reality (VR) has great educational potential, current implementations predominantly emphasize audiovisual simulations, neglecting olfactory and haptic stimuli and thereby compromising the physical fidelity of VR learning environments. Meanwhile, conflicting findings on the impact of immersion level on learning outcomes, coupled with limited research exploring the interaction between physical fidelity and immersion level, have impeded the widespread adoption of VR in education. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of physical fidelity (multisensory stimuli vs. no multisensory stimuli) and immersion level (immersive VR vs. desktop VR) on learning experiences (cognitive load, learning motivation, and quality of experience) and outcomes (procedural, factual, and conceptual knowledge) in VR-based fire-safety education. A two-by-two factorial experiment was conducted with 120 Chinese university students. The results showed that multisensory stimuli significantly reduced the intrinsic cognitive load of learners. Immersive VR surpassed desktop VR for bolstering learning motivation, particularly in terms of attention, relevance, and satisfaction. Physical fidelity and immersion level have significant interaction effects on long-term retention of conceptual knowledge and satisfaction. Incorporating multisensory stimuli into immersive VR enhances the quality of experience. Our findings have significant implications and value for the application of multisensory stimuli and VR technology in education.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1506848
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1506848
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/07356331261429313
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 29
        StartPage: 1294
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Computer Simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sensory Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Difficulty Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Learning Motivation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Knowledge Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fire Protection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Safety Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fidelity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Effect of Physical Fidelity and Immersion Level on Learning Experiences and Outcomes in VR-Based Fire-Safety Education
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            NameFull: Wenhao Li
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            NameFull: Li Qian
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            NameFull: Xin Wang
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            NameFull: Qiyun Wang
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              Y: 2026
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              Value: 1541-4140
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Educational Computing Research
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