Built on Research. Designed for Learning.

Research context

GRACE explores an instructional approach to empathy learning for nursing students. Its design connects gamified branching role-play, virtual patient communication, and structured reflection.

The development work is part of doctoral research in Technology and Vocational Education. The model and prototype are being developed and validated, with implementation in preparation. This website presents the research direction; it does not report completed findings or verified effectiveness.

The GRACE instructional model

Gamified Role-play for Affective and Cognitive Empathy.

The model is organized into prebriefing, simulation, debriefing, and evaluation. Learners prepare for a scenario, explore conversational decisions, reflect on perspectives and emotions, and review the learning experience.

Branching role-play creates opportunities to consider different responses to the same situation. The instructional journey includes activities that may be facilitated by educators; it should not be understood as a promise that every stage is automated.

Research and development stages

1. Instructional Model Development: defining the learning framework, objectives, and sequence of activities. Development is ongoing.
2. Prototype Development: translating the model into patient scenarios, decision pathways, and reflection activities. Development is ongoing.
3. Expert Validation: preparing validation of the instructional model and prototype. Completion is not claimed.
4. Research Implementation: preparing implementation and evaluation within the research context. Completed implementation is not claimed.

Detailed protocols, validation results, and research findings can be added when finalized and appropriate for public release.

Evaluation approach

The planned evaluation concerns the instructional model, the prototype experience, and empathy learning. Expert review, learning activities, structured assessment, and reflection are areas of focus. The final research protocol will determine the instruments, timing, procedures, and analysis.

The planned KCES-R assessment portal is a separate system. This landing site does not implement, administer, or score that assessment, and it does not collect research responses.

Research participation and access

Public access to the GRACE application and assessment portal is not yet enabled on this website. Research participation, if offered, will be governed by the relevant study information, consent process, and system-specific privacy notices.

For research-related questions, use the contact page.