Analysis of Design Decisions on Reinforcing Stereotypes in Games

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Advanced Technology and Learning Poster Session

Abstract

Game environments are being used in multiple fields to study human behavior. Just as experimental studies of human behavior are affected by their methods, games are affected by the authoring platforms and tools used to make them. We examine how the diversity of a cast of characters made available to students of game design and psychology may have influenced the choices they made when designing short, narrative-based, character-based experiments. Games created by undergraduate and graduate students at two universities were analyzed and found to reflect demographic biases (e.g., race and gender). We discuss the findings in the context of inclusive and critical design, and how the decisions of education researchers, technology designers, and game designers can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes.

Authors

• Steven Sutherland, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Will Althoff, University of Houston - Clear Lake

• Anna Amato, New York University

• Leo Bunyea, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

• Tyler Duke

• Casper Harteveld, Northeastern University

• Camillia Matuk, New York University

• Kate Olguin, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

• Nathan Partlan, Northeastern University

• Magy Seif El-Nasr

• Sam Snodgrass, Northeastern University

• Gillian Smith, Worcester Polytechnic Institute