E-Book Overview
Games are increasingly becoming the focus for research due to their cultural and economic impact on modern society. However, there are many different types of approaches and methods than can be applied to understanding games or those that play games. This book provides an introduction to various game research methods that are useful to students in all levels of higher education covering both quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. In addition, approaches using game development for research is described. Each method is described in its own chapter by a researcher with practical experience of applying the method to topic of games. Through this, the book provides an overview of research methods that enable us to better our understanding on games.
E-Book Content
Game Research Methods
Game research methods An overview Editors: Petri Lankoski and Staffan Björk
ETC Press 2015 978-1-312-88473-1 (Print) 978-1-312-88474-8 (Digital) Library of Congress Control Number: 2015932563 TEXT: The text of this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NonDerivative 2.5 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/) IMAGES: All images appearing in this work are property of the respective copyright owners, and are not released into the Creative Commons. The respective owners reserve all rights. All submissions and questions should be sent to: etcpress-info ( at ) lists ( dot ) andrew ( dot ) cmu ( dot ) edu For formatting guidelines, see: www.etc.cmu.edu/etcpress/files/WellPlayed-Guidelines.pdf
Contents Acknowledgments Preface Frans Mäyrä
ix xi
1. Introduction
1
2. Fundamentals for writing research
9
Petri Lankoski and Staffan Björk a game-oriented perspective Carl Magnus Olsson
Part I. Qualitative approaches for studying games 3. Formal analysis of gameplay
23
4. Analyzing time in videogames
37
5. Studying games from the viewpoint of information
57
Petri Lankoski and Staffan Björk
José P. Zagal and Michael Mateas
Olle Sköld, Suellen Adams, J. Tuomas Harviainen and Isto Huvila
Part II. Qualitative approaches for studying play and players 6. Awkward
77
7. In-depth interviews for games research
93
8. Studying thoughts
117
9. Focus group interviews as a way to evaluate and understand game play experiences
133
The importance of reflexivity in using ethnographic methods Ashley Brown Amanda Cote and Julia G. Raz
Stimulated recall as a game research method Jori Pitkänen Lina Eklund
Part III. Quantitative approaches 10. Quantitative methods and analyses for the study of players and their behaviour
151
11. Sex, violence and learning
175
12. Stimulus games
193
13. Audio visual analysis of player experience
207
14. An Introduction to Gameplay Data Visualization
231
Richard N. Landers and Kristina N. Bauer
Assessing game effects Andreas Lieberoth, Kaare Bro Wellnitz, and Jesper Aagaard Simo Järvelä, Inger Ekman, J. Matias Kivikangas and Niklas Ravaja Feedback‐based gameplay metrics Raphaël Marczak and Gareth R. Schott Günter Wallner and Simone Kriglstein
15. Structural equation modelling for studying intended game processes Mattias Svahn and Richard Wahlund
251
Part IV. Mixed methods 16. Mixed methods in game research
271
17. Systematic interviews and analysis
291
18. Grounded theory
309
Playing on strengths and countering weaknesses Andreas Lieberoth and Andreas Roepstorff Using the repertory grid technique Carl Magnus Olsson Nathan Hook
Part V. Game development for research 19.