Christina Frederick

Studying Human Relatedness through a Shared Gaming Experience

The importance of relatedness in collocated multiplayer video games should not be underestimated. Interpersonal relationships, which develop from social interactions that occur during gameplay, contribute to player motivation and meaningful and memorable experiences for the players. In this study we examined how interpersonal touch within a gameplay experience impacted player motivation and inter-player impressions. Dyads played one of two iPad-based games in three different conditions, one of which required physical contact between the players. Results indicated those in the touch-based conditions scored higher on several measures of intrinsic motivation and impressions of their teammate.

An Analysis of Expressed Cheating Behaviors in Video Games

A series of 50 responses regarding reasons for cheating behavior in video games were provided by undergraduate students. These responses were sorted into a series of 13 categories by raters to investigate the most common reasons provided for cheating. An analysis of inter-rater agreement as well as frequency of category representation is provided. The most common outcomes were that players cheat to progress in a game as well as to gain advantage over others. The discussion compared this study’s results to an existing cheating taxonomy.

Recategorization of Video Game Genres

While the categories that are typically used to discriminate games have been useful in the past, more recently game mechanics have become utilized by a wider range of games, leading to earlier definitions becoming a less valuable categorization tool. This paper attempts to provide various ways games could be classified by focusing on the types of emotions they evoke, the skills they require or their relations with personality or cognitive variables. A description of those categories and the challenge in using them to define games is outlined as well as five alternate methods that may help make distinctions between games clearer.

Relatedness in gaming: How in-game touch influences player connection

As the number of individuals becoming gamers continues to increase, using video games as a medium to understand the social interactions and underlying motivations of players becomes ever so important. Interpersonal relationships, which develop from the social interactions that occur during gameplay have been found to contribute to player motivation and relatedness within the game (Rigby & Ryan, 2011). In the current study we examined how interpersonal touch, more specifically positive or negative touch conditions within a gameplay experience, impacted player motivation and inter-player impressions in 74 undergraduate students. In addition, observational data was collected measuring the quality of interaction between the participant in the study and a research confederate with whom they were playing an online game. Quantitative results indicate significant differences between the positive touch conditions perceived competence, effort/importance, and relatedness when compared to the control touch and negative touch conditions. Qualitative results also reveal that participants who were in the positive touch and negative touch conditions had more reactions not only cognitively (i.e. in game response) but emotionally (i.e. out of game response like laughing) than the control condition. Touch is only one aspect of behaviors that can help to foster a sense of connection between players. These results begin to highlight the effect of virtual touch on relatedness and motivation. More research is needed to help determine the exact levels of virtual touch, as well as the different types of virtual touch needed to elicit a change in the participant’s motivation and relatedness, with hopes that game developers may take virtual touch into account when creating a game.

Exploring the Future of Human Factors Education: Online Learning, MOOCs, Next Generation Standards, and the Technological Skills We Need to Impart

The objective of this panel was to examine how the future of human factors education is changing given the influx of technology, a push for online learning, and adapting to the changing market. The panel will begin by Heather Lum briefly giving an overview and the precipice for this discussion panel. The panelists will provide their views and experiences regarding this topic. Kelly Steelman will discuss the potential for MOOCs and other online formats to create faster and more flexible postgraduate programs. Christina Frederick will discuss her perspectives on the technological skills we should be equipping our human factors graduates with to be successful. Nathan Sonnenfeld will give his unique take on this as a graduate student currently obtaining a human factors education. Susan Amato-Henderson will discuss the Next Generation Science Standards and the ramifications for educators. Lastly, Thomas Smith will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of online learning at the K-12 level. Dr. Lum will foster discussion among the panelists and questions from the general audience. Discussion time: 90 minutes.