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Effects of Game Mode in Multiplayer Video Games on Intergenerational Social Interaction: Randomized Field Study
Carmen Zahn1, David Leisner1, Mario Niederhauser1
1School of Applied Psychology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland.
JMIR Formative Research
|February 16, 2022
Summary
Creative game modes enhance verbal communication between seniors and younger players, while competitive modes encourage more laughter. Game design significantly impacts social interaction in intergenerational gaming.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Human-Computer Interaction
- Social Gerontology
- Digital Health and Wellbeing
Background:
- Maintaining social connections is vital for seniors, especially in retirement homes.
- Multiplayer video games offer a platform for intergenerational social interaction.
- Specific game design elements are crucial for fostering positive social engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of three distinct game modes (competitive, cooperative, creative) on social interactions.
- To analyze both verbal and nonverbal communication between seniors and younger coplayers.
- To investigate how game design influences social dynamics in intergenerational gaming.
Main Methods:
- A controlled field trial was conducted in a Swiss retirement home.
- Ten senior residents (mean age 84.8 years) played in pairs with caregivers.
- A within-subject design analyzed 30 video-recorded 20-minute game sequences across three random game modes.
Main Results:
- Creative mode significantly increased verbal communication compared to cooperative mode (P=.04).
- Creative mode also led to more game-related (P=.01) and biography-related (P=.03) communication.
- Competitive mode resulted in significantly more nonverbal communication, specifically shared laughter (P=.02).
Conclusions:
- Game mode is a critical factor in shaping social interactions during intergenerational gameplay.
- Creative game modes effectively enhance verbal communication, fostering deeper engagement.
- Competitive game modes appear to stimulate more positive nonverbal interactions like shared laughter.
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