The authors explore how framing theory and the method of frame-reflective discourse analysis provide foundations for the emerging discipline of serious games (SGs) research. Starting with Wittgenstein's language game and Berger and Luckmann's social constructivist view on science, the authors demonstrate why a definitional or taxonomic approach to…

In large measure the authors agree with Tobias and Fletcher's (2012) comments stating that clearer operational definitions of game features are needed to enable research on games and learning. The authors cannot accept that games are a subset of simulations, preferring to identify instances when games and simulations overlap and when they do not.…

The general management simulation game, Tempomatic IV is used in a comparison of ranking and relational performance evaluation procedures. Results indicate that the relational approach has clear advantages over ranking approaches, especially in generating more useful information. Also, reliance on mechanically generated scores can lead to…

This paper attempts to summarize briefly the history of the Denison University project for learning through simulation, detailing the range of research, development, education and training, and evaluational efforts which resulted in the establishment of the Denison Simulation Center. The paper includes an explanation of the services currently…

Examines the effects of selected educational simulation game design and process variables on participants' comprehension of decision-making criteria, interest in real-life analogue of the decision-making procedure, sense of group integration, and satisfaction with participation. (Editor/RK)

Studies the extent to which the effectiveness of instructional gaming in learning specific mathematical ideas can be increased by incorporating devices that channel learners' attention upon those ideas. In particular, the effect of channeling attention by changing the method of scoring is explored. (Author/CMV)

This paper considers techniques, games and simulations, to deal with the broad area of decision-making in a variety of problem situation. Since violence is a learned behavior, there are alternative ways to handle conflict situations. Simulation games have been utilized primarily in research. The purpose of this paper is to correct this imbalance,…

Following a brief review of the terminology, important research, and distinguishing characteristics of game theory, four potential benefits of a game theoretic approach to communication research are proposed; game simulations facilitate communication process research; a game matrix enables the researcher to simulate situations in which…

Proceedings of the Conference on "The Public Interest vis a vis Educational R & D, held at Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia on July 16-17, 1969 with the cooperation of the U.S. Office of Education.

The purpose of this state-of-the-art paper is to provide an overview of simulation ("a representation of several variables in the same arrangement as they occur in a particular natural or artificial system"), particularly as it relates to the professional preparation of school personnel. After distinguishing between "simulation" and "simulation…

The Simulation and Gaming Project for Inter-Institutional Computer Networking is a joint effort on the part of EDUCOM and 18 participating institutions to investigate the role that computing networks might play in higher education and research. Central to the project is the development of a computer simulation model of a possible national network,…

Using Adar's fourfold classification of students according to dominant motive for learning, it is argued that simulation games possess greater motivational power than other techniques of instruction given their ability to overcome three motivational difficulties. (CMV)

This study investigated the development and evaluation of a computer-augmented science learning game model, through the implementation of a specific game derived from the game model. Formative evaluation strategies were synthesized from two existing evaluation procedures and were tested and applied to the learning resource under development. As a…

The research study measures changes in political attitudes of high school students after playing the game "Democracy." The primary purpose of the experiment was to determine if role identification and game structure are primarily responsible for the effects of the game upon the player's attitudes. The player takes the role of a congressman who…

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the FEHR (formative evaluation and heuristic research) Practicum training model, a computerized simulation providing practical experience in decision-oriented educational research and evaluation. The report is organized into five chapters. Chapter one contains an introductory discussion of the needs and…