Designing games is an intricate process. The goal is to create aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable games by combining both artistic and functional elements. In the context of learning games design, one of the most challenging tasks is to incorporate learning into game play. In another words, learning game designers need to strike the right balance between play and learning for achieving the intended educational and entertainment purposes. Given the increasing interest in using games for educational purposes and the complex multidisciplinary nature of learning games design, it is crucial to define and share learning game design knowledge. As a result,…Continue readingThe Art of Learning Games Design
Category: Game Research
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Research on Games for Learning
Games have the potential to drastically change how we learn. Scholars argued games can play an important role in facilitating learning across educational settings, from classrooms, home, to workplaces (Gee, 2003; Van Eck, 2006). Games provide a motivating environment that can engage learners in multiple levels (affective, behavioral, cognitive, and socio-cultural) through incorporation of various game design elements to promote learning (Plass, Homer, & Kinzer, 2015). Plass et al. (2015) proposed a game-based learning model consists of three key elements, challenge, response, and feedback (Figure 1). The challenge-response-feedback cycle represents the core learning mechanism in games. Specifically, games provide challenges…Continue readingResearch on Games for Learning
The Internet is becoming an important medium for conducting research. The Internet has broken down the spatial and temporal boundaries between researchers and potential participants. Conducting research with traditionally rare, under-researched, hard to access and culturally diverse populations becomes possible (Hewson & Stewart, 2014). Internet-Based Research, Internet-Mediated Research, Web-Based Research and Online Research are often used interchangeably for describing research conduct via the Internet. Internet-based research has its strengths and weaknesses. This article examines the characteristics and ethical challenges of Internet-based research, and the potential and issues of conducting game research on the Internet . Internet-Based Research The Internet presents…Continue readingThe Potential and Challenges of Internet-Based Game Research
A number of contemporary motivational theories were examined in the previous articles in the present Understanding Motivation in Games series. The current article will focus on Goal-Orientation Theory and its application in examining motivation in games. Goal-Orientation Theory Goal-orientation theory posits achievement goal orientations influence individuals’ cognitive self-regulation processes toward goal accomplishments (Covington, 2000). Goal orientations are defined as situated orientations or overarching purposes of actions and behaviors. Goal orientations influence interpretation of events, which elicits different cognitive, affective and behavioral consequences. Goal orientations vary across situations and individuals. Two major and contrasting types of achievement goal orientations were identified,…Continue readingUnderstanding Motivation in Games – Goal-Orientation Theory
Attribution Theory, Self-Efficacy Theory and Expectancy-Value Theory were examined in the previous articles in this Understanding Motivation in Games series. The current article will focus on Self-Determination Theory and its empirical applications. Self-Determination Theory Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) investigates social-contextual factors and conditions that sustain and foster self-motivation to facilitate human’s inherent growth tendencies and psychological well-being. Self-Determination Theory hypothesizes three innate psychological needs, the needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness are essential in determining the effectiveness of human functioning and development, and psychological health. Competence refers to the experience of mastery through completing challenges and achieving desired…Continue readingUnderstanding Motivation in Games – Self-Determination Theory
Attribution Theory and Self-Efficacy Theory were examined in the previous articles in this Understanding Motivation in Games series. The current article will focus on Expectancy-Value Theory and how it applies in game research. Expectancy-Value Theory Expectancy-Value Theory of motivation (Wigfield & Eccles, 2000) is derived from Atkinson’s (1964) expectancy-value model, where individual’s ability beliefs, expectancies for success and subjective task values are crucial in determining individual’s choices, effort, persistence, and performance. Ability beliefs are defined as individuals’ perception of current competence in a given domain. Expectancies for success are defined as individuals’ perception of success on future tasks. Expectancies for…Continue readingUnderstanding Motivation in Games – Expectancy-Value Theory
Attribution Theory was examined in the previous article in this Understanding Motivation in Games series. The current article will focus on Self-Efficacy Theory and its application in game research. Self-Efficacy Theory Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura, 1977) hypothesizes individuals expectations of personal efficacy influences their choices of activities and settings, amount of effort to be invested and level of persistence in the activities. Expectations of efficacy can be distinguished between outcome expectations and efficacy expectations. Outcome expectations are individual’s beliefs of certain behaviors which will lead to expected outcomes, whereas efficacy expectations are beliefs that an individual’s ability to execute certain actions…Continue readingUnderstanding Motivation in Games – Self-Efficacy Theory
This the first article of the Understanding Motivation in Games series. The current article will focus on Attribution Theory. Attribution Theory Attribution Theory (Weiner, 1985) posits that individuals have innate needs to understand and strive for mastery. The process of attribution allows individuals to establish and understand the causal relationships between causes and event outcomes (successes and failures), which influences and guides their subsequent actions to achieve the desired outcomes. According to Attribution Theory, ability, effort, task difficulty and luck are identified as four essential causes for successes and failures. These attributions are further divided into three causal dimensions, locus…Continue readingUnderstanding Motivation in Games – Attribution Theory
Understanding Motivation in Games series focuses on investigating and understanding game motivation from the perspectives of various contemporary motivational theories. Game researchers seek to examine and explain the appeal and reasons for playing games by applying motivational theories to understand player experience and motivation in games. Contemporary motivational theories such as attribution theory, self-efficacy theory, expectancy-value theory, interest theory, goal-orientation theory and self-determination theory provide a theory-grounded approach for investigating the motivational affordance of games. Each of these contemporary theories will be examined individually. 1. Attribution Theory 2. Self-Efficacy Theory 3. Expectancy-Value Theory 4. Interest Theory 5. Goal-Orientation Theory 6.…Continue readingUnderstanding Motivation in Games