Virtual Reality-Based Retrospective Think Aloud (VR-RTA): A Novel Method for Studying Offender Decision-Making

Abstract

Objectives: This article describes a novel multimodal method to examine decision-making:Virtual Reality-Based Retrospective Think Aloud (VR-RTA). This method taps directly into the offenders' perspective and aims to enhance memory recall.Methods: We apply this method among a sample of incarcerated burglars (N=200) who scouted neighborhoods in immersive virtual reality to explore possibilities for committing a burglary. Subsequently, they viewed back a screen recording of their scouting process and simultaneously 'thought aloud' about their assessment of the environment and the decisionmaking strategies they employed. Emerging themes were then further examined in an interview.Results: Rich and detailed insights into participants' interpretation of the environment and their decision-making strategies were obtained. VR-RTA assisted in verbalizing automated cognitive processes and increased engagement by building rapport. That is, the method allows for capturing in the moment considerations underlying decision making during the crime commission process. Conclusions:We conclude that the VR-RTA method is a useful complement to other methods of data collection, such as interviews and survey approaches, and also enhance virtual realitybased research designs.

A Framework for Testing Theories of Criminal Decision Making Using VR Scenarios and Process Tracing and its Application to Situational Action Theory

“…Although some researchers in criminology have referred to such think-aloud or retrospective reports in their own verbal report procedures in the context of so-called virtual burglary studies (Meenaghan et al, 2018;Sergiou et al, 2024), these studies represent a departure from the widely accepted verbal reporting procedures used to gain insights into decision-making processes. Participants in these studies were instructed to burgle a virtual house or to select an object for burglary in a virtual neighbourhood and to describe and explain their approach to the researcher.…”

“…Moreover, researchers may use cued recall procedures (Lyle, 2003) that assist participants with a detailed recall of their predecisional thoughts and experiences . In interactive VR scenarios, this may include presenting a recording of participants' behaviour in the VR environment to participants before eliciting subjective reports (Sergiou et al, 2024). Alternatively, when using non-interactive immersive scenarios, the same video material may be presented to the participant again.…”