2 Grade Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Number 2 8 4 1 Table: Majors of the participants Major Political Science Economics Law Others Number 6 4 3 2 Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 11 / 11

1. Teaching How Electoral Systems Change
Political Outcomes Using a Role-Playing
Simulation Game
Shinsuke Nishino Jaehyun Song* Keisuke Tani Yuki Yanai
Graduate School of Law, Kobe University
jaehyun.song@stu.kobe-u.ac.jp
February 12, 2016

2. Today’s Talk
1 Background
Why does electoral system matter?
Difficulty of teaching electoral systems
How to overcome: Role-playing game
2 Role-playing game
How to play
Result
3 Educational effect
How to measure
How effective

3. Background Why matters?
Why matters?
Elements of electoral systems
Voting rule, district magnitude, counting rule, . . .
Electoral systems affect
Party systems
Party organizations
Voting behavior
. . .
⇒ Important for learning political science
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 1 / 11

4. Background Problems & Difficulties
Problems & Difficulties
1 No experiences
Stability of political system
No experiences with various electoral systems
2 Connection with voting rules
SMD & Single vote; MMD & Multiple vote
What about MMD & Single vote? (Pure effect of MMD)
3 Only a few cases
Upper-house in Japan, local elections in Japan and Korea
NOT the most important elections.
A role-playing simulation as an indirect experience.
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 2 / 11

5. Role-playing Game Design
Design
Purpose
Effect of district magnitudes (MMD vs. SMD)
MMD → SMD: Pork-barrel politics declines
A role-playing game to understand why and how
Role-playing as candidates in elections
Candidates allocate their own resources to each sector
More allocation, more votes
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 3 / 11

6. Role-playing Game Setting
Setting
Common Setting
Population of each district: 100,000
Every voter belong to specific sectors
Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Total
Pop. 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 100,000
Each candidate has 10 unit of resources.
Two situations
MMD 5 candidates & 3 winners
Candidates 1 and 2 belong to the same party
SMD 3 candidates & 1 winner
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 4 / 11

7. Role-playing Game Rule
Rule
How to calculate votes (Example)
Cand. 1, 2, and 3 allocated 3, 0, and 4 units of the resources
respectively to Sector 1 ⇒ s1 = (3, 0, 4)
Calculating the costs of competitons(c)
Subtracting c
Normalizing the column vectors
Multiplying the populations of the sectors
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 5 / 11

8. Role-playing Game Rule
Rule
How to calculate votes (Example): STEP 1
Cand. 1, 2, and 3 allocated 3, 0, and 4 units of the resources
respectively to Sector 1 ⇒ s1 = (3, 0, 4)
Table: Resource Allocation
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Cand.1 3 4 1 2
Cand.2 0 6 4 0
Cand.3 4 3 2 1
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 5 / 11

9. Role-playing Game Rule
Rule
How to calculate votes (Example): STEP 2
Calculating the cost of competition (c = 0.1× # of competitors)
Table: Calculating the costs
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Cand.1 3 4 1 2
Cand.2 0 6 4 0
Cand.3 4 3 2 1
c 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 5 / 11

10. Role-playing Game Rule
Rule
How to calculate votes (Example): STEP 3
Subtracting c
Table: Cost-adjusted Resource Allocation
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Cand.1 3 − 0.2 = 2.8 3.7 0.7 1.8
Cand.2 0 5.7 3.7 0
Cand.3 4 − 0.2 = 3.8 2.7 1.7 0.8
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 5 / 11

11. Role-playing Game Rule
Rule
How to calculate votes (Example): STEP 4
Normalizing the column vectors
Table: Normalized Resource Allocation
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Cand.1 2.8
2.8+3.8
= 0.424 0.306 0.115 0.692
Cand.2 0 0.471 0.607 0
Cand.3 3.8
2.8+3.8
= 0.576 0.223 0.279 0.308
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 5 / 11

12. Role-playing Game Rule
Rule
How to calculate votes (Example): STEP 5
Multiplying the populations of sectors
Table: Translating Resources to Votes
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Cand.1 0.424 × 40000 = 16970 9174 2295 6923
Cand.2 0 × 40000 = 0 14132 12131 0
Cand.3 0.576 × 40000 = 23030 6694 5574 3077
Cand.1 Cand.2 Cand.3
Votes 35361 26263 38375
W/L Lose Lose Win
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 5 / 11

13. Role-playing Game Rule
Rule
How to calculate votes (Example): Summary
Cand. 1, 2, and 3 allocated 3, 0, and 4 unit of the resources
respectively to Sector 1. ⇒ s1 = (3, 0, 4)
1.Calculating c Two candidates × 0.1 = 0.2
2.Subtracting (2.8, 0, 3.8)
3.Normalizing 2.8
2.8+3.8
, 0, 3.8
2.8+3.8
= (0.424, 0, 0.576)
4.Multiplying 40,000 (16970
Cand.1
, 0
Cand.2
, 23030
Cand.3
)
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 5 / 11

14. Role-playing Game Practice
Procedure
1 Guidance on how to play
2 Thinking strategies (3 mins.)
No communication except
players 1 and 2 in MMD
3 Submit distribution sheets to
masters
4 Notice the results
The votes are calculated using
R and the results are uploaded
on a webpage
5 Repeat ten times
Table
Table Table
C1
C5
C3
M
C2
C4
Figure: Table setting(MMD)
C: Candidate, M: Master
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 6 / 11

15. Role-playing Game Practice
Procedure
1 Guidance on how to play
2 Thinking strategies (3 mins.)
No communication except
players 1 and 2 in MMD
3 Submit distribution sheets to
masters
4 Notice the results
The votes are calculated using
R and the results are uploaded
on a webpage
5 Repeat ten times
Figure: Playing game
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 6 / 11

16. Role-playing Game Practice
Procedure
1 Guidance on how to play
2 Thinking strategies (3 mins.)
No communication except
players 1 and 2 in MMD
3 Submit distribution sheets to
masters
4 Notice the results
The votes are calculated using
R and the results are uploaded
on a webpage
5 Repeat ten times
Table: A distribution sheet
Candidate ID:
Sector Population Resource
Sector1 40,000
Sector2 30,000
Sector3 20,000
Sector4 10,000
Total 100,000 10
Magnitude is 3.
If tied, winner is randomly decided
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 6 / 11

17. Role-playing Game Practice
Procedure
1 Guidance on how to play
2 Thinking strategies (3 mins.)
No communication except
players 1 and 2 in MMD
3 Submit distribution sheets to
masters
4 Notice the results
The votes are calculated using
R and the results are uploaded
on a webpage
5 Repeat ten times
Figure: Calculating votes
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 6 / 11

18. Role-playing Game Practice
Procedure
1 Guidance on how to play
2 Thinking strategies (3 mins.)
No communication except
players 1 and 2 in MMD
3 Submit distribution sheets to
masters
4 Notice the results
The votes are calculated using
R and the results are uploaded
on a webpage
5 Repeat ten times Figure: Result page
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 6 / 11

19. Role-playing Game Result
Result
Expectation
MMD(1,2): (8, 0, 0, 2) & (0, 6, 4, 0) ⇒ ENC = (1, 1, 1, 1)
MMD(i≥3) = SMD: (4, 3, 2, 1)
Table: MMD - Players 1 and 2
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Expected 1 1 1 1
Mean 1.95 1.92 1.58 1.44
Note: Average ENC of the last three tasks
Table: MMD(Player 3-5) & SMD
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Expected 4 3 2 1
M: Mean 3.78 3.11 2.22 0.89
M: SD 0.85 0.97 0.80 0.58
S: Mean 3.90 3.00 2.07 1.03
S: SD 1.09 1.05 0.74 0.49
Note: Average allocation of the last three
tasks
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 7 / 11

20. Evaluation Measurements
What are measured?
Post-game
After the game, all participants responded to:
1 How actively the students participated
2 How much they enjoyed the game
3 How helpful they thought the game was
Post-lecture
In “Political Culture” class, the instructor lectured about:
1 M + 1 Rule
2 District magnitude and candidates’ preferences
3 Electoral system and party factions
Asked how much they understood these 3 topics
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 8 / 11

21. Evaluation Result
Post-game
Many students actively participated, and rated the game as fun
and educationally helpful.
Participation Enjoying Helpful N
Mean 3.60 3.60 3.21 15
SD 0.51 0.51 0.80
Note: Higher means, more positive response.(1∼4)
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 9 / 11

22. Evaluation Result
Post-lecture
Control Group Students who did NOT participate in the game (N = 61)
Treatment Group Those who participated in the game (N = 13)
Degree of understanding between the two groups
PositiveResponses(%)
5060708090100
Control Treatment Control Treatment Control Treatment
M + 1 Rule District magnitude Party faction
95% CI
A difference between the both group is not statistically significant (small N)
Smaller SD in the treatment group
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 10 / 11

23. Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Many students actively participated in our role-playing game,
enjoyed it, and felt it useful.
Statistically significant educational effect was not found, but we
could do better
How to improve
Larger N
Reducing social desirability bias
Elaborating the game design
Separating each sector by Party-Identification
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 11 / 11

24. Appendix Game Result
Result(MMD; Candidates 1 and 2)
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
District 1 1.98 1.96 1.60 1.33
District 2 1.96 1.97 1.87 1.67
District 3 1.91 1.84 1.27 1.33
Mean 1.95 1.92 1.58 1.44
Expected 1 1 1 1
Note: Average ENC of the last three tasks
0.00.51.01.52.0
Result(MMD − Player 1~2)
Election ID
ENC
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sector1(Actual)
Sector2(Actual)
Sector3(Actual)
Sector4(Actual)
Expectation
Observed result deviated from the expectation.
Small # of trials?
⇒ A few chances for “trial and error”
⇒ Avoiding risks.
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 11 / 11

25. Appendix Game Result
Result(MMD; Candidates 3, 4, and 5)
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Expected 4 3 2 1
Mean 3.78 3.11 2.22 0.89
SD 0.85 0.97 0.80 0.58
Note: Mean of the last three tasks
012345
Result(MMD − Player 3~5)
Election ID
DistributedResources
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sector1(Actual)
Sector2(Actual)
Sector3(Actual)
Sector4(Actual)
Sector1(Expected)
Sector2(Expected)
Sector3(Expected)
Sector4(Expected)
Observed result almost coincides with the expectation
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 11 / 11

26. Appendix Game Result
Result(SMD)
Sec.1 Sec.2 Sec.3 Sec.4
Expected 4 3 2 1
Mean 3.90 3.00 2.07 1.03
SD 1.09 1.05 0.74 0.49
Note: Mean of the last three tasks
1 2 3 4 5
012345
Result(SMD)
Election ID
DistributedResources
Sector1(Actual)
Sector2(Actual)
Sector3(Actual)
Sector4(Actual)
Sector1(Expected)
Sector2(Expected)
Sector3(Expected)
Sector4(Expected)
Observed result almost coincides with the expectation
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 11 / 11

27. Appendix Game information
Game information
Participants: 15
Date: Jan. 18 2016 / Time: 12:20–14:50
Provided Lunch & Gift cards
Table: Grades of the participants
Year 2 3 4 5 Total
N 5 7 1 2 15
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 11 / 11

28. Appendix Lecture information
Lecture information
“Political Culture” in Faculty of Law, Kobe University
Lectured about the three topics(Jan.20 2016).
M+1 rule, district magnitudes, and party factions.
# of Students: about 100
# of Respondents: 80
Year 2 3 4 5∼ Grad. Total
N 17 49 9 4 1 80
Table: Grades of the respondents
Nishino, Song, Tani, Yanai (Kobe) Election Game February 12, 2016 11 / 11