The Effects of Game Design on Learning Outcomes.

Authors:
Martin, Michael W.1
Shen, Yuzhong2
Source:
Computers in the Schools. Jan-Jun2014, Vol. 31 Issue 1/2, p23-42. 20p.
Document Type:
Article
Subject Terms:
*EDUCATION -- Research
*VIDEO game design
*LEARNING
*VIDEO gamers
*COMPETITION (Psychology)
*GAME theory
*VIDEO games in education
Author-Supplied
Keywords:
game design principles
learning
learning outcomes
serious games

611710 Educational Support Services

611699 All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction
923110 Administration of Education Programs
511212 Video game publishers
541515 Video game design and development services

Abstact:
This article details the administration and results of an experiment conducted to assess the impact of three
video game design concepts upon learning outcomes. The principles tested include game aesthetics, player
choice, and player competition. The experiment participants were asked to play a serious game over the
course of a week, and the learning outcomes were measured by comparing their pretest and posttest
scores. The results of a one-tailedttest indicated, with apvalue of 0.043, that there was a statistically
significant effect of the aesthetic presentation of the game upon the learning outcome. There was no
indication of a significant effect by the player choice or player competition conditions, but the results from
these experiment groups point to some potentially interesting interactions between the conditions and
learning, as well as possible future lines of experimental inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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