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Article
Toward a Taxonomy Linking Game Attributes to Learning: An Empirical Study
Simulation & Gaming
  • Wendy L. Bedwell, University of Central Florida
  • Davin Pavlas, University of Central Florida
  • Kyle Heyne, University of Central Florida
  • Elizabeth H. Lazzara, University of Central Florida
  • Eduardo Salas, University of Central Florida
Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
12-1-2012
Abstract/Description

The serious games community is moving toward research focusing on direct comparisons between learning outcomes of serious games and those of more traditional training methods. Such comparisons are difficult, however, due to the lack of a consistent taxonomy of game attributes for serious games. Without a clear understanding of what truly constitutes a game, scientific inquiry will continue to reveal inconsistent findings, making it hard to provide practitioners with guidance as to the most important attribute(s) for desired training outcomes. This article presents a game attribute taxonomy derived from a comprehensive literature review and subsequent card sorts performed by subject matter experts (SMEs). The categories of serious game attributes that emerged represent the shared mental models of game SMEs and serve to provide a comprehensive collection of game attributes. In order to guide future serious games research, the existing literature base is organized around the framework of this taxonomy.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1046878112439444
Publisher
Sage Publications, Inc.
Additional Information

Dr. Lazzara was not affiliated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the time this paper was published.

Citation Information
Wendy L. Bedwell, Davin Pavlas, Kyle Heyne, Elizabeth H. Lazzara, et al.. "Toward a Taxonomy Linking Game Attributes to Learning: An Empirical Study" Simulation & Gaming Vol. 43 Iss. 6 (2012) p. 729 - 760
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/elizabeth_lazzara/5/