Development of Serious Games for Behaviour Change: A Practical Methodology (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Catalina Ortega ◽  
Svjetlana Kolić-Vehovec ◽  
Barbara Rončević Zubković ◽  
Sanja Smojver-Ažić ◽  
Tamara Martinac Dorčić
Keyword(s):  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Intervention Mapping ◽  
Psychological Perspective ◽  
Game Development ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Intervention Mapping Protocol ◽  
Post Test

UNSTRUCTURED Objectives: The main purpose of the paper is to define a new methodology that allows the design of Serious Games that promote a behavioural change. The methodology is based on the Intervention Mapping Protocol (IMP) to define all the information and interventions and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to promote the behaviour change. Materials and methods: The methodology is based on the experience of game designers and psychologies within the eConfidence H2020 research project in which a new methodology was designed and implemented in two serious games. The game development methodology is described in six steps to be followed, with the psychological perspective integrated with the game design. Both games were tested in 10 schools with a pre and post-test for the data analysis. Results: Both games developed within the methodology present relevant findings on the change of behaviour of the users. Additionally, the proposed metric integrated allows a database improvement of the games to get better results. Conclusion: New methodology for design and study effectiveness of Serious Games that promote behavioural changes, was designed and integrated into two serious games that demonstrate changes in the users. The methodology could help other teams in the work of design and assess the effectiveness of a Serious Game for behavioural change.

scholarly journals Design of a Digital Game Intervention to Promote Socio-Emotional Skills and Prosocial Behavior in Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Pamela Saleme ◽  
Timo Dietrich ◽  
Bo Pang ◽  
Joy Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Intervention Mapping ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Digital Game ◽  
Emotional Skills ◽  
Intervention Mapping Protocol ◽  
Theory Application ◽  
Game Intervention

In emergency contexts such as the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health risk factors affect children and may affect behavioral and emotional problems including anxiety, self-blame, emotional disturbance, and stress. Preventive measures are crucial to address these health risks. Research highlights strength-based factors, such as socio-emotional skills and prosocial behaviors, as important for childhood development and socio-emotional wellbeing. Yet, the initial evidence base shows mixed effectiveness and insufficient behavior change theory application into socio-emotional and prosocial digital game interventions. Additionally, few interventions are designed with a clear process to convert theory into practical game solutions and very limited guidance on the digital game development process exists. This study describes the Intervention Mapping Protocol (IMP) and theory application in the design of a digital game intervention which aims to strengthen social-emotional skills development and promote prosocial behavior in 8–11-year-old children. The method systematically describes the steps of the IMP process in detail to guide future theory-based game design. The results explain the final digital game prototype that was co-designed with continuous input and insights provided by stakeholders and feedback from children. This paper contributes to our understanding of theory application in the design of digital game interventions focused on health and behavior change and provides much needed guidance on how theory and stakeholder input can be incorporated into a final game design.

Application of behavioral theory in computer game design for health behavior change

2010 ◽  
pp. 196-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross Shegog
Keyword(s):  
Health Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Intervention Mapping ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Mapping Process ◽  
Novel Strategy

Serious games are gaining profile as a novel strategy to impact health behavior change in the service of national health objectives. Research has indicated that many evidence-based programs are effective because they are grounded in behavioral and motivational theories and models such as the PRECEDE model, the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Transtheoretical Model, Attribution Theory, and the ARCS model. Such theories assist in understanding health behavior problems, developing salient interventions, and evaluating their effectiveness. It follows, therefore, that serious games can be made optimally effective in changing health behavior if they are also informed by these theories. A successful intervention development framework (Intervention Mapping) provides a means to enable game developers to use theory to inform the design of effective games for health. This chapter describes useful theories and models for health game design, introduces the intervention mapping process, and describes a case study of a theory- and empirically-based serious health game intervention that has used these approaches and has been rigorously evaluated.

Above Water: Designing Games for Sensitive Topics and Battling Mental Health Stigma (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rina Wehbe ◽  
Colin RJ Whaley ◽  
Yasaman Eskandari ◽  
Ally Suarez ◽  
Lennart E Nacke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
User Preferences ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Domain Experts ◽  
Sensitive Topics ◽  
Entertainment Value

BACKGROUND While in many contexts unsuccessful games targeting learning, social interaction, or behavioural change have few downsides, when covering a sensitive domain such as mental health, care must be taken to avoid harm and stigmatization of people who live with mental health conditions. As a result, evaluation of the game to identify benefits and risks is crucial in understanding the game's success; however, assessment of these applications is often compared to the 'non-game' control condition, resulting in findings specifically regarding entertainment value and user preferences. Research exploring the design process, integrating field experts, and guidelines for designing a successful serious game for sensitive topics is limited. OBJECTIVE Our paper seeks to understand which elements of game design can guide a designer when designing a game for sensitive topics. METHODS To carefully probe the design space of serious games for mental health, we present Above Water, a game targeting the reduction of stigma surrounding mental health, now in its second iteration. This game serves as a research probe to understand the design and evaluation of games in the area of mental health by soliciting expert feedback from experts in domains related to Mental Health and Wellness, Game Design and User Experience (UX). RESULTS By using this deployment as a research probe to gather assessments by domain experts, this paper contributes to a better understanding of how to design specialized games to address sensitive topics. CONCLUSIONS The main contribution of the presented paper is a set of the guidelines for designing games for sensitive subjects. For each guideline, we present an example of how to apply the finding to the sample game (Above Water). Furthermore, we demonstrate the generalizability to other sensitive topics by providing an additional example of a game that could be designed with the presented guidelines. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

Developing a community-based intervention for Dutch older adults in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla A Luten ◽  
Arie Dijkstra ◽  
Andrea F de Winter ◽  
Sijmen A Reijneveld
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Intervention Mapping ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Disadvantaged Community ◽  
Intervention Mapping Protocol ◽  
Insight Into

Summary Unhealthy eating and low levels of physical activity are major health risks, especially for older adults and people with a low socioeconomic status. The aim of this article is to describe the development of a community-based intervention aimed at promoting physical activity and healthy eating among people aged 55 years and over, in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community. The Intervention Mapping protocol was used to develop the intervention. We conducted a literature search, consultation with community partners and inhabitants, and a quantitative study, in order to obtain insight into the determinants of the target population and to identify appropriate theory-based methods and practical strategies for behavioural change. An assessment was performed of the problem with respect to health behaviour and the underlying determinants. Findings were translated into program, performance and change objectives which specify determinants related to behavioural change. Theory-based methods and practical applications were selected, resulting in a plan for adoption and implementation. The intervention included a local media campaign, social environmental approaches and physical environmental activities in the community, with an intermediating role for inhabitants and health professionals in the promotion of the campaign. An evaluation plan was produced to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The Intervention Mapping protocol was a helpful instrument in developing a feasible, theory and evidence-based intervention tailored to a specific target population in the area of health promotion. The systematic and structured approach provided insight into the relationship between the objectives, methods and strategies used to develop the comprehensive intervention.

Being an Educator and Game Developer: The Role of Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Non-Commercial Serious Games Production

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 771-788
Author(s):  
Jonas Linderoth ◽  
Björn Sjöblom
Keyword(s):  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Game Development ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
University Course ◽  
The University

Background and aim. Previous literature has discussed tensions between the field of game design and the field of education. It has been emphasized that it is important to address this tension when developing game based learning (GBL). In order to find potential ways of approaching this problem, we investigate the development of GBL when performed by those who have both pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and experience in game development. Method. Two case studies about serious games production were conducted, a game section at a national defense college and a university course in educational game design. The cases, as well as individual development projects within the settings, were analyzed with a focus on the role of PCK during serious games development. Results. While the developers and instructors at the defence college, who designed games for their in-house needs, had both PCK and knowledge about game development, these competencies varied a lot among the participants at the university course. The results show that educational goals added complexity to the design process. By comparison, some studied game projects at the university course avoided this complexity. These projects legitimized their games as educational by suggesting unproven far transfer. In other cases, where the developers did have PCK, the instructional goals where taken as a starting point that guided the whole development process. This lead to games that were designed to match highly specific educational contexts. The developers, instructors and teachers in both of the settings who used their PCK tended to break a number of established game design heuristics that would have been counter productive in relation to the learning objectives of the games. Conclusions. The paper suggests that there is a need for people with pedagogical content knowledge AND knowledge about game development. Enhancing these dual competencies in game workers could forward the field of GBL.

scholarly journals Gamification based learning activities in elementary Brazilian public school

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1830
Author(s):  
Wilton Moreira Ferraz Júnior ◽  
Suéllen Rodolfo Martinelli ◽  
Carlos Henrique da Silva Santos ◽  
Murillo Rodrigo Petrucelli Homem
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Design Patterns ◽  
Extreme Programming ◽  
Agile Methods ◽  
Game Development ◽  
Teachers Experiences ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Games Development

This work presents an iterative method which is based on the serious games development in elementary and high school classes, focusing on the students and teachers experiences from Brazilian scholar reality. Furthermore, it does not require strong background in game development and it is planned to be introduced any area of knowledge. It has been considered as a motivational method to engage the teachers and students’ in-depth discussions. It follows some Agile Methods practices, such as the Extreme Programming (XP) and Scrum Agile Methods to guide them along the continuous exploration of game design in classrooms. This method also considers the design patterns techniques to reuse (re-guise) some well-known digital games engines and educational concepts, as example a guided game design based on the spaceships battles to associate electric charges concepts. The results obtained in experiments occurred in public schools show successful acceptance and they contribute to improve the students’ academic performance. This method is now introduced in some undergraduate and graduate practices to analyze its impact in entrepreneurship courses.

Designing Games-Based Embedded Authentic Learning Experiences

2009 ◽  
pp. 1068-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny de Byl
Keyword(s):  
Game Design ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Authentic Learning ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Development Work ◽  
Game Based Learning ◽  
Game Development ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Authentic Learning Experiences

This chapter presents the embedded authentic serious game-based learning experiences (EASLE) architecture which has been developed to assist in the definition of games-based applications. The motivation behind the design of EASLE is to keep game specifications as simple and focused as possible for educators attempting to create serious games as current available game design methodologies and templates are complex and extensive. Furthermore, it is argued that games created with EASLE reduce the amount of game development work to be done by the educator allowing for deeper collaboration between students. Toward the end of this chapter a game developed with EASLE which took two weeks to complete is presented.

scholarly journals Mā te rongo ka mohio: Māori Pā Wars and Kaupapa Māori Methodology at the Interface of Video Games

2018 ◽  
pp. 71-85
Author(s):  
Huni Mancini
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Game Development ◽  
Mobile Game ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Kaupapa Māori ◽  
Video Game Technology

This essay reviews Māori Pā Wars (2017), a te reo Māori mobile game developed for mobile devices by independent Māori-led video game company Metia Interactive. Through consideration of the historical struggle for cultural and te reo Māori revitalisation, this essay discusses the use of kaupapa Māori methodology to activate mātauranga Māori through gameplay. Situated within a wider global shift towards ‘indie’ game development and more pertinently ‘Indigenous game development,’ Māori Pā Wars is one of the first games to bring kaupapa Māori methodology to the interface of video game technology. Through analysis of game development methodology, mechanics, game design and the ubiquitous mobile medium, this essay outlines the ways Māori Pā Wars challenges a ‘literature of dominance.’ It concludes that the game borrows from remix and convergence cultures inherent to indie game development, thereby reflecting the way Māori technologies, social and political systems continue to adapt to a changing technological landscape.

scholarly journals Modelling the recommendation technique for achieving awareness in serious game for obesity

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Syafiq Bin Mohd Omar ◽  
Marina Ismail ◽  
Norizan Mat Diah ◽  
Suzana Ahmad ◽  
Hayati Abd Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Serious Games ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Game Development ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Development Approach

Obesity among children is increasing alarmingly. Therefore it is crucial to instill the awareness about the danger of being obese to the children. To instill the awareness is a challenge. A good approach is required for the message to be accepted and conceptualized by the children. Serious game has been an important mechanism to assist the achievement of many serious purposes other than for entertainment and enjoyment. This paper proposes the implementation of content-based recommendation technique in serious game for obesity awareness among children. Several recommendation techniques for awareness had been studied and the content-based recommendation technique is found to be suitable to be implemented in games. The game was developed according to game development approach and fulfilled the game characteristics. For this preliminary study, 10 children participated in the experiment to determine the effectiveness of the game. The participants were given a pre-and post test to answer before and after playing the game. The result of the test shows that participants achieved the obesity awareness after playing the game. The content-based recommendation technique is applicable to be adopted in serious games to instill awareness in the players.

Development of “My Retainers” mobile application: Triangulation of two qualitative methods (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalya Al-Moghrabi ◽  
Fiorella Beatriz Colonio-Salazar ◽  
Ama Johal ◽  
Padhraig Seamus Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Patient Experiences ◽  
Application Development ◽  
Participant Preferences ◽  
Orthodontic Retainers ◽  
Purposive Sample

BACKGROUND Diligent wear of removable orthodontic retainers requires prolonged compliance and is invariably necessary to preserve optimal results. Patient-informed behaviour-change interventions represent a promising and novel means of enhancing compliance with retainer wear. OBJECTIVE To describe the development of a patient-informed mobile application aimed to enhance retainer wear. METHODS Four aspects were considered during mobile application development: participant preferences; analysis of publicly-available retainer-related posts on Twitter; available interventions; and behaviour-change theories. Audio-recorded one-to-one interviews were conducted with a subset of participants to account for patient preferences in terms of features, design and content. A criterion-based purposive sample of participants wearing vacuum-formed retainers for at least 4 years was used. Thematic analysis of transcribed data was undertaken. RESULTS The need to facilitate communication with the treating clinician, responsive reminder and tracking systems, and access to useful and engaging written and visual information, in addition to other personalised and interactive features were considered important. Concerns related to retainer wear shared on Twitter informed an exhaustive list of frequently-asked questions. Application features were mapped to relevant theoretical constructs. Determinants of existing behavioural change theories were used to link application features to expected outcomes. CONCLUSIONS A holistic process involving both patient and professional input can be useful in informing the development of mobile applications. The orthodontic application (“My Retainers”) will undergo further scrutiny in relation to its effectiveness in inducing behavioural change and concerning patient experiences prior to finalisation.

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