Principal Investigator: Matthew J. Smith, PhD

Between 2011 and 2014, Dr. Smith supported the development and led the evaluation of Virtual Reality Job Interview Training. The heart of the training is repeatedly practicing your ability to interview with Molly Porter, a virtual hiring manager for a fictional company called WonderSmart. Dr. Smith’s work required research participants to come to a research office to practice their skills with Molly. Currently, Dr. Smith has several studies to bring “The Molly Training” to the community.

First, Dr. Smith is evaluating if Virtual Reality Job Interview Training with Molly can help improve community-based supported employment services for adults with severe mental illness. Click Here to Learn More

Second, Dr. Smith is working on modifying Virtual Reality Job Interview Training with Molly so that transition-age youth on the autism spectrum or who have other educationally-defined disabilities can interview with new characters, Rita and Travis. He is currently looking for school partners to help him evaluate the “New” version of Molly with their Special Education students. Click Here to Learn More

Third, Dr. Smith is also evaluating if high school students with educational disabilities improve their employment outcomes by using Virtual Reality Job Interview Training as part of their transitional curriculum. Click Here to Learn More

Our latest study is evaluating if individuals with severe mental illness who interview with Molly during their typical mental health services (instead of a research environment) can also benefit from the training.

 

In 2014, The Molly Project was featured in the Wall Street Journal. The article reviews the evaluation of Virtual Reality Job Interview Training among young adults with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.