Analyzing Moral Deliberation During Gameplay: Moral Foundations Theory as an Analytic Resource. Issue 7 (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fennewald, Thomas; Phelps, David
• Is Part Of: Games and culture. Volume 14:Issue 7/8(2019)
• Page Start: 917
• Page End: 936
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: morals -- games -- moral foundations theory -- game theory -- ultimatum game -- dictator game -- dialogue -- negotiation -- fairness -- ethics; Games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Video games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Computer games -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Interactive multimedia -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.4834
• DOI: 10.1177/1555412017745231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-4120

Abstract

This article explores the role of interplayer moral conversation in multiplayer games with three subquestions: how to design and use games for morality research, how advances in moral theory can inform game-based research into morals, and how game-based research can inform moral theory. A long tradition has investigated morals using games such as Ultimatum and Dictator ; however, this research often omits interplayer moral dialogue. Further, when moral foundations theory is accounted for, analysis of these games seems to investigate a narrow range of moral reasoning. In this methodological critique, we draw upon data from gameplay of a simulation of climate change debate and find a wide range of moral foundations through analysis of dialogue. Our analysis suggests that in-game player dialogue is a source of rich moral deliberation and potential for using simulation games as grounds for discovering new moral foundations.