{"id":9818,"date":"2024-06-03T09:03:33","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T09:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8d.nl\/5-frequently-asked-questions-about-research-and-serious-gaming\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T11:27:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T11:27:30","slug":"5-frequently-asked-questions-about-research-and-serious-gaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8d.nl\/en\/5-frequently-asked-questions-about-research-and-serious-gaming\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Frequently Asked Questions About Research and Serious Gaming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n \n\n
\n \n\n

Navigate directly to the desired question:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Serious Gaming as a Research Method \u2013 how does that work, exactly?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. How do you incorporate serious gaming into a research proposal?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Co-creation, isn’t that needlessly complicated?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Why are patients and other target groups involved in research through gaming?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. What are the main challenges when using serious gaming strategies in your research? <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Serious Gaming as a Research Method \u2013 how does that work, exactly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Developing a serious game is an iterative and co-creative process. You don’t just start building a game; you first work closely with the target audience to investigate what kind of game is needed to effectively solve your challenge. Ideally, you involve the necessary domain experts and end-users in all steps of the process: from problem definition to concept development, and from prototype to finished game. This combination of gaming and research makes the process incredibly enjoyable but also challenging. In a co-creative process, you don\u2019t know from the start what type of product you will end up with; you go in with an open mind to achieve as much impact as possible. This sometimes requires a different, more flexible approach than some funders and knowledge institutions are used to. But it is possible and worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One of the main advantages of research with a serious gaming methodology<\/a><\/strong> is that you can test and measure things with the target audience at all stages of the development process. Not just with the final product, but certainly at the beginning: from the concept phase to the first (simple) concept or prototype. How does the target audience experience the problem you are trying to solve? And what do they think of the proposed solution? We regularly see that sessions with the end-user yield valuable knowledge for researchers. The framework of \u2018developing a game together\u2019 often removes the sting from the subject for target group participants. They discuss their desires for the solution in a concrete, creative way that often provides you, as a researcher, with more (and more nuanced) data about the problem at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once there is a prototype, the game as a final product obviously also provides research opportunities, especially when it comes to digital games. An example: with a sensor game\u2014perhaps to make rehabilitation exercises more enjoyable\u2014researchers and doctors can precisely see what movement is being made and how the body responds to the game. Are the exercises being done correctly and sufficiently? In education, implementing an educational game often provides more insight into students’ learning processes. Does the game have a positive effect on behavior and thoughts in young people? These kinds of questions can be incorporated into the game\u2019s design, providing value to the research field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n
    \n \n\n
    \n \n\n

    Want to Learn More About Research, Serious Gaming, and Healthcare?<\/strong>
    In our webinar with Lise Beumeler on     research, serious gaming, and healthcare,<\/strong><\/a> it was highlighted that innovative technologies like VR can significantly improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation therapy, especially when implemented correctly. It is important to thoroughly test whether the game works, and this is where research plays a crucial role. There is no serious game without scientific backing. This webinar specifically focuses on gaming in healthcare, but the lessons and examples are relevant and inspiring for researchers in all domains.\r\n<\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n \n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \n \n\n
    \n \n\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    2. How do you incorporate serious gaming into a research proposal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Suppose you want to write a research proposal in which serious gaming and design-oriented research play a significant role. How do you go about that effectively? The development of a serious game is an iterative and co-creative process<\/a><\/strong>, where ideally, you do not yet know exactly what the final product will be. This can sometimes be challenging to align with the requirements of funding bodies. They \u2013 understandably \u2013 want to know exactly what the outcomes of each project phase will be. Here are some tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n