Objective measurement and evaluation in virtual technology-driven environments: Methods, applications, and future directions

Abstract

Virtual technology-driven environments (VTD) are widely used in education and training due to their positive impact on cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills. However, measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of these environments poses challenges, including technological complexity, diverse user behavior, and data collection methods. Researchers and practitioners employ various methods to address these issues, such as self-report measurements and objective methods that assess user experiences during system interactions. This book chapter examines physiological, physical and behavioural measures used to assess user responses, cognitive competencies and task performance in VTDs. The chapter offers an overview of existing methods, discusses their applications across different fields, and highlights future developments. The aim is to provide a comprehensive perspective on the challenges of measurement and evaluation in virtual environments. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.