Virtual Environment for Social Information Processing (VESIP) Phase II

This project builds upon on previous work on a theory-based tool that assesses and trains children with autism spectrum disorders social information processing (SIP) skills. This system, the virtual environment for social information processing (VESIP), is a significant improvement over existing measures of social skill in several ways: (1) its standardized, computer-delivered form reduces training requirements and scoring time and increases comparability across populations; (2) its theory-based assessment is designed to pinpoint specific deficits in the SIP process for later individualized intervention; and (3) its immersive, easily-customizable, game-like interface is engaging, leading to greater ecological validity and a more accurate assessment of real-world skills.