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Game research methods book introduction
The document provides an overview of various research methods in game studies, emphasizing the pluralistic nature of the field and the importance of selecting appropriate methodologies. It covers qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, along with ethical considerations and potential research questions. The book aims to serve as a comprehensive toolbox for researchers, offering insights into how to apply different methods effectively in their investigations.
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Game research methods book introduction
- 1. GAME RESEARCH METHODS AN OVERVIEW EDITEDBY PETRI LANKOSKI & STAFFAN BJÖRK
- 2. What Overview ofgame research methods book Different research design Pluralistic perspective on research approaches A bit about philosophy of science & ethics
- 3. Research Practices Gameresearch can be seen as its own research field or a research domain common to many research fields Established disciplines typically have a core set of settled research methods Not so for new disciplines or those that are interdisciplinary
- 4. A Very ShortIntroduction to Philosophy of science Objectivity Critique by Hume, Popper, Devey Theory-laden (Kuhn) Science the most reliable way to form knowledge Even the knowledge may be fallible and approximate
- 5. Unit of Analysis What is studied Can be different that the data gathered Well-established research fields typically have identified what is the individual data collected and analysed
- 6. Method? A methodis a specific systematic procedure for handling data (of the chosen Unit of Analysis) Data gathering methods (e.g., interview, observation, questionnaire) Data analysis methods (e.g., T-test, discourse analysis) Mixed methods Qualitative and quantitative mixed
- 7. Method, cont. Qualitativemethod Rich descriptions of a phenomenon Quantitative methods Relations between measured variables Mixed methods approaches Combines qualitative and quantitative methods in various ways ? Images:pixabay(CC0)
- 8. Methods, cont. Researchquestion implies possible research methods But, you need research to find your research question Sometimes you start with other things that research questions Research domains Research projects … Research is messy business
- 9. Overview of ourforthcoming book For games Qualitative approachers For play and players Quantitative approaches Quantitative approaches Mixed methods Game development for research e.g., design research
- 10. What and Not We cover various very typical game research methods and some more esoteric Opportunistic sampling for chapters Does (unfortunately) not include all feasible methods we are aware of, e.g.: platform studies historical studies methods
- 11. Preface Frans Mäyrä “Findingand following a methods means finding a way. The original etymology of methodology conveys the same message: meta hodos in Ancient Greek meant following a path, as well as finding the way or means to achieve certain goal.” General
- 12. Fundamentals for writinga thesis Carl Magnus Olsson Argument chains General
- 13. Formal analysis ofgameplay Petri Lankoski & Staffan Björk Formal analysis of gameplay Language for describing various aspects of the game systems Primitives: components, actions, goals Analysis examples Plant vs Zombies Ico, combining formal Qualitativemethodsforstudying games
- 14. Time in videogames JoséZagal & Michael Mateas Formal analysis of temporal frames Language for describing temporal aspects of the games Real-world–gameworld– coordination–fictive Interaction between frames Temporal anomalies Qualitativemethodsforstudying games
- 15. Studying gameplay asinteractions with information Olle Sköld, Suellen Adams, J.Tuomas Harviainen & Isto Huvila Games as information How players search and use information in games Analyzing information, kinds of information and access to information Qualitativemethodsforstudying games
- 16. Awkward: The importanceof reflexivity in using ethnographic methods Ashley Brown Ethnography for games Focus for MMORPGs Studying sex using ethnomethodology Emotions Boundary managagement Qualitativemethodsforstudying playandplayers
- 17. In-Depth interviews forgames research Amanda Cote & Julia G. Raz When to use interview Ethical consideration Participant selection & recruiment Conducting interviews Thematic analysis Qualitativemethodsforstudying playandplayers
- 18. Studying thoughts: Stimulatedrecall as a game research method Jori Pitkänen Records for supporting interview E.g., gameplay video Possible to look at a specific event and discuss about that Planning Conducting Analyzing Ethical issues Qualitativemethodsforstudying playandplayers
- 19. Focus group interviewsas a way to evaluate and understand gameplay experiences Lina Eklund Form of interview where people are interviewed as a group When to use Planning Conducting How to moderate a group Transcribing pratices Analyzing Qualitativemethodsforstudying playandplayers
- 20. Quantitative methods andanalyses for the study of players and their behaviour Richard N. Landers & Kristina N. Bauer General introduction to quantitative research Reliability & validity Correlational designs Experiment designs Quasi-experiment designs Quantitativeapproaches
- 21. Sex , Violenceand Learning: Doing effect assessment for games Andreas Lieberoth, Kaare Bro Wellnitz & Jesper Aagaard What counts as evidence? What can be inferred from the results? Effect size P values & confidence intervals Quantitativeapproaches
- 22. Stimulus games Simo Järvelä,Inger Ekman, J. Matias Kivikangas & Niklas Ravaja Using games as a stimulus in psychophysiological studies Studying cognition & emotions Advantages & challenges Quantitativeapproaches
- 23. Audio visual analysisof player experience Raphaël Marczak & Gareth R. Schott How to collected gameplay data automatically from a game Quantitativeapproaches
- 24. An Introduction toGameplay Data Visualization Günter Wallner & Simone Kriglstein Quantitativeapproaches
- 25. Structural equation modeling MattiasSvahn & Richard Wahlund Modeling technique for studying causal relation between variables Directly Indirectly Evaluating models Assessing models Case example: Agents Against Power Waste Quantitativeapproaches
- 26. Mixed methods ingame research playing on strengths and countering weaknesses Andreas Lieberoth & Andreas Roepstorff Introduction to mixed methods designs Why to use mixed method designs Downsides of mixed method designs Mixedmethodsapproaches
- 27. Systematic interviews andanalysis: Using the repertory grid technique Carl Magnus Olsson Basis in personal construct theory by Kelly Elements – constructs – links Research designs Qualitative, mixed methods Mixedmethodsapproaches
- 28. Grounded Theory Nathan Hook Groundedtheory process Variations Qualitative Mixed methods Examples Mixedmethodsapproaches
- 29. How touse modding in experiment research Possible games for modding Best practices Gamedevelopmentforresearch Extensive modding for experimental game research M. Rohangis Mohseni, Benny Liebold & Daniel Pietschmann
- 30. Experimental Game Design AnnikaWaern &Jon Back When is game design experimental? Focus on qualitative design research Example case Codename Heroes Gamedevelopmentforresearch
- 31. Summary The Book Overview of different methods How to use them Something about research in general Possible advantages Toolbox of methods Understanding of different methods, which fit your research, and how to apply them Help reflecting on your research What is your research question? What is your unit of analysis?
- 32. Aims and Perspective Confusion reigning in game research What should be studied? (games, gamers, gaming, platforms, texts, etc.) What are the legitimate methods? What does legitimate mean in this context? We don’t believe there is one correct answer, i.e., we see game research as an interdisciplinary field Method selection should be motivated This requires awareness of different approaches
- 33. Aims and Perspective,cont. To advance game research as a field, research approaches needs to be more explicit This puts demands on researchers to discipline themselves about being explicit about what they are doing and why (not why others are wrong) Descriptions of approaches to provide a common source where the approaches can be compared Research methods is one aspect of this
- 34. Petri Lankoski petri.lankoski@sh.se StaffanBjörk staffan.bjork@ait.gu.se The book at ETC Press http://press.etc.cmu.edu/content/game-research- methods-overview
Editor's Notes
- #6 This graph needs some explaining, e.g. the whole social sciences often have non-tangible UoA rather than humans - design research doesn’t fit in here also and in addition changes things while doing research
- #8 Everything that looks like nail is not nail If you are used to use hammer, everything looks like nail
- #14 Methods than have focus on the games itself Games as formal systems Games as information system Not gaming In these, the player is a theoretical concept The method abstracts player e.g., as to player actions
- #17 Methods has focus on players’ behavior or phenomenology Ethnomethodology Interview methods How to apply the method when studying games
- #27 Mixed methods approaches combines both qualitative and quantitative methods Introduction to mixed methods research Repertory grid technique
- #28 Mixed methods approaches combines both qualitative and quantitative methods Introduction to mixed methods research Repertory grid technique
- #29 Mixed methods approaches combines both qualitative and quantitative methods Introduction to mixed methods research Repertory grid technique
- #30 Modding for experimental research Developing games for experimental research Qualitative game design research Design research is a special where the created artefact is integral part of research
- #31 Mixed methods approaches combines both qualitative and quantitative methods Introduction to mixed methods research Repertory grid technique