ERIC Number: EJ1164729
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1088-8691
EISSN: N/A
Perspective Taking and Decision-Making in Educational Game Play: A Mixed-Methods Study
Hilliard, Lacey J.; Buckingham, Mary H.; Geldhof, G. John; Gansert, Patricia; Stack, Caroline; Gelgoot, Erin S.; Bers, Marina U.; Lerner, Richard M.
Applied Developmental Science, v22 n1 p1-13 2018
Video games have the potential to be contexts for moral learning. We investigated whether "Quandary," a video game designed to promote ethical thinking and moral considerations for decision-making, would help promote positive skills such as perspective taking and empathy in adolescents. We examined the effect of playing "Quandary" on 131 middle school students on self-reported measures of moral thinking via mixed-method randomized control trials. In addition, we conducted qualitative analyses of one-on-one participant interviews and short-answer responses to capture experiences and reflections from playing "Quandary," as well as the depth in which students across conditions responded to the interview questions. We found that short-term quantitative indicators did not show change across conditions; however, qualitative analyses revealed thematic responses that are consistent with the core components of the "Quandary" game, and that students in the "Quandary" condition showed a greater depth of response to interview questions. This work is a first step in exploring the potential for virtual game play on children's social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Descriptors: Perspective Taking, Decision Making, Educational Games, Video Games, Play, Moral Development, Ethical Instruction, Empathy, Adolescents, Middle School Students, Mixed Methods Research, Randomized Controlled Trials, Semi Structured Interviews, Social Development, Emotional Development, Cognitive Development, Pretests Posttests, Questionnaires, Likert Scales, Moral Values, Value Judgment, Values, Coding, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Multivariate Analysis
Psychology Press. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Interpersonal Reactivity Index
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A