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Whynott Dissertation.pdf (1.2 MB)

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Video Game Play: The Effects of Exploratory Representational Play and Constructive Play on Divergent Thinking and Problem-Solving

Whynott, Elizabeth M
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2153-6683
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1524133931554959

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Psychology.
The role of video games and today’s culture is ever-growing, making it important to understand the effect they can have on our cognitive processes. Because video games provide an outlet for play, there is evidence to support that video game play can produce similar outcomes on cognitive processes as the real-world play it is designed to imitate. By changing the environmental settings within a video game and having objectives that encourage either exploration of the environment or construction of items and structures, specific types of play can be encouraged, thus improve cognitive processes. The goal of these studies was to determine what effects two types of video game play, Exploratory Representational Play (ERP) and Constructive Play (CP) have on divergent thinking and problem-solving, respectively. Study 1 examined the effect of both goals and different video game environments for ERP and CP have on divergent thinking and problem-solving. Study 2 considered CP and ERP goals and different video game environments separately to examine whether either of these manipulations influenced divergent thinking and problem-solving. In Study 1 the ERP and the non-video game playing control conditions had better problem-solving scores than the CP condition. Study 2 found strong support for having either ERP or CP goals to improve divergent thinking. Across both studies, the manipulation of differing play-type objectives and settings led to more of the intended play behaviors, exploration and construction. These studies suggest that video game play can be designed to mimic real-world game play but more research is needed to understand how cognitive processes can be affected by video game play.
Christopher Wolfe (Committee Chair)
Yvette Harris (Committee Member)
Leonard Smart (Committee Member)
Doris Bergen (Committee Member)
119 p.
Cognitive Psychology
problem-solving, divergent thinking, video game play, constructive play, exploratory representational play

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Whynott, E. M. (2018). Video Game Play: The Effects of Exploratory Representational Play and Constructive Play on Divergent Thinking and Problem-Solving [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1524133931554959

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Whynott, Elizabeth. Video Game Play: The Effects of Exploratory Representational Play and Constructive Play on Divergent Thinking and Problem-Solving. 2018. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1524133931554959.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Whynott, Elizabeth. "Video Game Play: The Effects of Exploratory Representational Play and Constructive Play on Divergent Thinking and Problem-Solving." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1524133931554959

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1524133931554959
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© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.