Incorporating Behavioral Techniques into a Serious Videogame for Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Game Design
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Designing effective serious videogames for children remains an under-researched area.
• Understanding how to integrate behavior change techniques is crucial for developing impactful games.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the incorporation of self-regulation techniques into a serious videogame aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in children.
• To assess player engagement with these self-regulation components.
• To contribute to knowledge on designing effective serious videogames for pediatric audiences.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of gameplay data from a 10-episode online serious videogame.
• Target population: preadolescent children (ages 9-11) in the United States.
• Focus on behavior change techniques promoting self-regulation.

Main Results:

• Children actively engaged with the self-regulation elements within the videogame.
• Identified necessary modifications to mitigate cognitive overload and enhance future game design.
• Suggestive evidence for successful integration of behavior change techniques without compromising game appeal.

Conclusions:

• Behavior change techniques promoting self-regulation can be successfully embedded in serious videogames for children.
• Formative research is essential for creating appealing games where children understand and can execute behavior change procedures.
• This study highlights the potential of serious games in promoting healthy eating habits in children.