Foundations for Interpreting VR Training Transfer: Transfer Distance and Claim Reach

Virtual reality (VR) training is evaluated through outcomes that differ substantially in what they demonstrate, ranging from satisfaction and simulator improvement to physical performance, workplace behavior, and operational results. This focused narrative review used structured searches of Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science to examine how VR training transfer is assessed and interpreted. The review tracker contained 108 records, representing 106 unique sources after duplicate removal. Seventy-seven sources met the eligibility criteria, and 48 were cited in the final manuscript. Existing terminology and evaluation models do not consistently distinguish performance within VR, transfer to a closely corresponding nonvirtual task, performance within a broader staged external activity, and behavior during authentic practice. This review therefore establishes the conceptual foundation for a Transfer-Distance and Claim-Reach Framework. Its preliminary application shows that transfer distance, claim reach, durability, task-relevant fidelity, and methodological strength answer different questions and should be reported separately. Simulator improvement may not transfer externally, physical carryover may be temporary or maladaptive, and distal outcomes may have broad practical relevance while providing limited causal evidence. The review defines reporting priorities and a development pathway involving multidisciplinary consensus, coding guidance, interrater testing, cross-domain evaluation, and prospective application. The proposed structure is an interpretive foundation and research agenda, not a validated taxonomy or evidence-grading system.