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Impact of gameplay vs. reading on mental models of social-ecological systems
Impact of gameplay vs. reading on mental models of social-ecological systems
- Source :
- Ecology and Society, Vol 26, Iss 2, p 25 (2021), Ecology and society, 26(2):25. The Resilience Alliance
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Climate change is a highly complex social-ecological problem characterized by system-type dynamics that are important to communicate in a variety of settings, ranging from formal education to decision makers to informal education of the general public. Educational games are one approach that may enhance systems thinking skills. This study used a randomized controlled experiment to compare the impact on the mental models of participants of an educational card game vs. an illustrated article about the Arctic social-ecological system. A total of 41 participants (game: n = 20; reading: n = 21) created pre- and post-intervention mental models of the system, based on a "fuzzy cognitive mapping" approach. Maps were analyzed using network statistics. Both reading the article and playing the game resulted in measurable increases in systems understanding. The group reading the article perceived a more complex system after the intervention, with overall learning gains approximately twice those of the game players. However, game players demonstrated similar learning gains as article readers regarding the climate system, actions both causing environmental problems and protecting the Arctic, as well as the importance of the base- and mid-levels of the food chain. These findings contribute to the growing evidence showing that games are important resources to include as strategies for building capacity to understand and steward sustainable social-ecological systems, in both formal and informal education.
- Subjects :
- serious games
fuzzy cognitive mapping
Ecology
QH301-705.5
media_common.quotation_subject
Complex system
systems thinking
Informal education
Ecological systems theory
Variety (cybernetics)
climate change
Dynamics (music)
Intervention (counseling)
Reading (process)
ITC-ISI-JOURNAL-ARTICLE
arctic
polar regions
Systems thinking
Biology (General)
Psychology
ITC-GOLD
QH540-549.5
media_common
Cognitive psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17083087
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Ecology and society
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....443250aff24497d07be3911c55de9d33
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.5751/es-12425-260225