Creating a virtual environment for multiple mini-interviews

选择理想的学生或员工的过程包括两个基本组成部分：评估相关知识和评估软技能(如沟通、情商、信心、解决问题等)。评估知识是行之有效的，可以从学业成绩或历史记录中获得。然而，评估软技能的技术并不那么明显和直接。为了应对这一挑战，2008年成立了用于过渡的高级心理测量学(以ProFitHR运行)。ProFitHR是从麦克马斯特大学剥离出来的一家公司，该公司营销多重迷你面试(MMI)技术，用于挑选学术、政府和企业部门高风险职位的候选人。通过MMI考试的申请者面临着一系列的站，每个站都处理不同的情况，其中可能包括沟通、协作、道德、批判性思维、对社会健康问题的认识、个人素质等。尽管MMI因其在评估候选人软技能方面的有效性而受到高度赞扬，但MMI对面试组织(面试人员、演员和设施的时间/成本)和申请者(旅行时间/成本)都是资源密集型的。开发远程MMI技术可以帮助克服面对面方法的许多资源限制。缓解这一障碍可能会为ProFitHR打开新的市场和客户，他们担心运行MMI所需的物流，但会接受远程技术。此外，远程虚拟环境可以允许更广泛的场景集，而这些场景在面对面的设置中可能很难实现。因此，本研究项目旨在探索使用虚拟化身的虚拟环境MMI(VE-MMI)站的有效性。拟议研究项目的目标是：(1)使用虚拟化身开发两个VE-MMI站；(2)在受控可用性研究中评估这两个VE-MMI站；以及(3)确定VE-MMI站是否是面对面MMI站的可行替代方案。

The selection process for ideal students or employees involves two essential components: assessing relevant knowledge and assessing soft-skills (such as communication, emotional intelligence, confidence, problem solving, etc). Assessing knowledge is well established and is available from academic performance or track records. However, techniques for assessing soft skills are not as apparent and straight-forward. To address this challenge, Advanced Psychometrics for Transitions (operating as ProFitHR) was established in 2008. ProFitHR is a spin-off company from McMaster University that markets the multiple mini interview (MMI) technique for selecting candidates for high stakes positions in academic, government and corporate sectors. An applicant progressing through a MMI faces a series of stations, each dealing with a different scenario, which may include communication, collaboration, ethics, critical thinking, awareness of society health issues, personal qualities, etc. While highly praised for its effectiveness at assessing candidates' soft skills, the MMI is resource intensive for both the interviewing organization (time/cost of interviewers, actors and facilities) and the applicant (travel time/cost). Developing a remote MMI technique can help overcome many of the resource limitations of the face-to-face method. Alleviating this barrier may open new markets and customers for ProFitHR that were apprehensive of the logistics required to run an MMI but would embrace a remote technique. Additionally, a remote virtual environment can allow for a broader set of scenarios that may be difficult to enact in face-to-face settings. As such, this research project aims to explore the efficacy of virtual environment MMI (VE-MMI) stations using avatars. The objectives of the proposed research project are: (1) to develop two VE-MMI stations using avatars; (2) to assess the two VE-MMI stations in a controlled usability study; and (3) to determine if VE-MMI stations are a viable alternative to face-to-face MMI stations.