Empathy in Action: Research Study on Emotional Response in Game Design

About Project: In this research we explored the efficacy of gamification for the study of the psychological concept of emotion in children. Our intent was to elicit and record the emotional responses of our players in order to study how they think about and project an empathic response on the world around them. We designed a series of games which draw on the empathy of our participants (children aged 5-11)  and incorporated these game designs into a survey utilizing StudyCrafter.  In this way, we introduce players to the visual context of endangered species, allowing them to share in the experience of the animals through our games, and then record their feelings and interpretations of these experiences throughout their gameplay .  Initial testing of this gamified research suggests  that the educational format of our prototype, as well as the empathetic reaction children have toward animals provides a successful combination of game design with the psychological concept of emotion

 

My Role: UX Researcher, Data Analyst

 

My Responsibilities: 

• Designed innovative mechanics and levels for an educational game about environmental issues for children

• Orchestrated research methodologies for qualitative and quantitative user experience research to enhance game design through data-driven insights

• Administered usability and player experience questionnaires including Game Engagement and Player Experience of Need Satisfaction, ensuring actionable feedback

• Designed and conducted in-depth player interviews, revealing key insights into player preferences and behaviors, which directly informed game development decisions

• Analyzed user data, leading to targeted improvements that elevated the overall player experience

• Co-authored extensive documentation, including literature reviews, research methodologies, results, and discussions, providing a robust foundation for future research and development

• Coordinated development tasks within team members using Trello and scheduled regular feedback sessions to facilitate communication, which improved team productivity