5
participated in a demonstration of VR-MRT prior to the
interview. Table 2 describes the breakdown of the inter-
view participants’ demographics including their experience
in their current positions, if they have ever responded to
a mine emergency, if they had experience with VR, and
whether they identified as a decision maker within their
organizations.
Surveys
Following the completion of the technical demonstration
of VR-MRT, mine rescue team members completed a
survey about their experience. The survey included the fol-
lowing multiple choice and open-ended questions about
acceptability and implementation strategy:
• Did you enjoy participating in today’s simulation
and debrief exercise? (i.e., yes, no)
• Given the opportunity, would you be interested in
participating in virtual mine rescue contests in addi-
tion to traveling to a physical location to participate?
(i.e., yes, maybe, no) Why or why not?
• Given the opportunity, would you be interested in
participating in virtual mine rescue contests instead
of traveling to a physical location to participate? (i.e.,
yes, maybe, no) Why or why not?
The survey also included three yes or no questions about
mine rescue experience and VR experience:
• Do you have any mine rescue experience in a real
mine emergency underground and under apparatus?
• Have you ever responded to a real mine emergency
as part of a mine rescue team, but your team did not
go underground?
• Have you ever experienced VR using a head mounted
display (HMD) before today?
Interviews
All interviews were conducted in person with a few follow-
up phone calls due to scheduling conflicts. Prior to the start
of the interview, all participants provided oral consent to
participate in the research. Each interview was conducted
individually. The interviews were conducted with one or
two researchers where both researchers took notes. The
interviews lasted between 20 and 60 minutes and con-
tained questions to capture the participants’ perspective
about VR-MRT and its implementation. Example ques-
tions include:
• What, if any, value do you think VR simulations like
VR-MRT bring to mine rescue training?
• What do you see as the biggest barriers to using
training like VR-MRT?
• In your opinion, would your organization support
the use of training like VR-MRT?
• In your opinion, does your organization have the
resources to conduct training like VR-MRT?
• Do you have any suggestions to improve VR-MRT
in terms of ease of adoption/use?
Data Analysis
Surveys
Quantitative analysis of the survey data was conducted
using SPSS statistical software (version 26, IBM), where
three main analyses were performed. First, a series of Chi-
square tests of independence were performed to determine
whether participants’ responses (i.e., yes, maybe, no) to
the implementation strategy (i.e., Instead of, In Addition
to) varied as a function of their mine rescue experience or
VR experience (i.e., yes, no). Participants were considered
to have mine rescue experience if they answered “yes” to
either of the mine rescue experience questions. Since no
Table 2. Participant Demographics and Experience
Count
(N)
Median
Position Exp.
(yrs.)
Mine Rescue Experience
VR
Experience Decision Maker
Yes No Yes No Yes No
Mine Rescue Teams
Recipients† 126 7.0 54.8% 45.2% 38.8% 61.1% N/A N/A
Deliverers 7 15.0 N/A N/A 14% 86% 14% 86%
Organization
Deliverers 4 8 N/A N/A 0% 100% 50% 50%
Facilitators 3 11 N/A N/A 0% 100% 67% 33%
Mid-Level Leaders 4 7 N/A N/A 0% 100% 100% 0%
High-Level Leaders 2 2.75 N/A N/A 0% 100% 100% 0%
N/A =not measured † =survey participants
participated in a demonstration of VR-MRT prior to the
interview. Table 2 describes the breakdown of the inter-
view participants’ demographics including their experience
in their current positions, if they have ever responded to
a mine emergency, if they had experience with VR, and
whether they identified as a decision maker within their
organizations.
Surveys
Following the completion of the technical demonstration
of VR-MRT, mine rescue team members completed a
survey about their experience. The survey included the fol-
lowing multiple choice and open-ended questions about
acceptability and implementation strategy:
• Did you enjoy participating in today’s simulation
and debrief exercise? (i.e., yes, no)
• Given the opportunity, would you be interested in
participating in virtual mine rescue contests in addi-
tion to traveling to a physical location to participate?
(i.e., yes, maybe, no) Why or why not?
• Given the opportunity, would you be interested in
participating in virtual mine rescue contests instead
of traveling to a physical location to participate? (i.e.,
yes, maybe, no) Why or why not?
The survey also included three yes or no questions about
mine rescue experience and VR experience:
• Do you have any mine rescue experience in a real
mine emergency underground and under apparatus?
• Have you ever responded to a real mine emergency
as part of a mine rescue team, but your team did not
go underground?
• Have you ever experienced VR using a head mounted
display (HMD) before today?
Interviews
All interviews were conducted in person with a few follow-
up phone calls due to scheduling conflicts. Prior to the start
of the interview, all participants provided oral consent to
participate in the research. Each interview was conducted
individually. The interviews were conducted with one or
two researchers where both researchers took notes. The
interviews lasted between 20 and 60 minutes and con-
tained questions to capture the participants’ perspective
about VR-MRT and its implementation. Example ques-
tions include:
• What, if any, value do you think VR simulations like
VR-MRT bring to mine rescue training?
• What do you see as the biggest barriers to using
training like VR-MRT?
• In your opinion, would your organization support
the use of training like VR-MRT?
• In your opinion, does your organization have the
resources to conduct training like VR-MRT?
• Do you have any suggestions to improve VR-MRT
in terms of ease of adoption/use?
Data Analysis
Surveys
Quantitative analysis of the survey data was conducted
using SPSS statistical software (version 26, IBM), where
three main analyses were performed. First, a series of Chi-
square tests of independence were performed to determine
whether participants’ responses (i.e., yes, maybe, no) to
the implementation strategy (i.e., Instead of, In Addition
to) varied as a function of their mine rescue experience or
VR experience (i.e., yes, no). Participants were considered
to have mine rescue experience if they answered “yes” to
either of the mine rescue experience questions. Since no
Table 2. Participant Demographics and Experience
Count
(N)
Median
Position Exp.
(yrs.)
Mine Rescue Experience
VR
Experience Decision Maker
Yes No Yes No Yes No
Mine Rescue Teams
Recipients† 126 7.0 54.8% 45.2% 38.8% 61.1% N/A N/A
Deliverers 7 15.0 N/A N/A 14% 86% 14% 86%
Organization
Deliverers 4 8 N/A N/A 0% 100% 50% 50%
Facilitators 3 11 N/A N/A 0% 100% 67% 33%
Mid-Level Leaders 4 7 N/A N/A 0% 100% 100% 0%
High-Level Leaders 2 2.75 N/A N/A 0% 100% 100% 0%
N/A =not measured † =survey participants