Defining Engagement and Characterizing Engaged-Behaviors in Digital Gaming. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bouvier, Patrice; Lavoué, Elise; Sehaba, Karim
• Other Names: Moseley Alex guest-editor.; Whitton Nicola guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Simulation & gaming. Volume 45:Number 4/5(2014:Aug./Oct.)
• Page Start: 491
• Page End: 507
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: digital games -- engaged-behaviors -- engagement -- flow -- immersion -- involvement -- presence; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Simulation methods -- Periodicals; Game theory -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Jeu de rôle -- Périodiques; Éducation; Jeu d'entreprise; Jeu de simulation; Méthode de simulation; Sciences sociales; Théorie des jeux; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 003.3
• DOI: 10.1177/1046878114553571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1046-8781

Abstract

Background . Although the analysis of engagement is crucial for digital entertainment or learning games, theconcept of players' or learners' engagement is still confusing. Indeed, in digital games research, several concepts referring to the idea of engagement such asimmersion, involvement, presence, andflow are used. Also, while the characterization ofengaged-behaviors may be useful for designers or teachers in assessing players' or learners' engagement, the nature and the scope of these behaviors are still unclear. Aim . In this article, based on a multidisciplinary state of the art on the concept of engagement, wedefine anddelineate theconcepts related to digital gaming engagement. Results . We characterizeengaged-behaviors by identifying four types of engagement:environmental, social, self, andaction . We thus refine, disambiguate, and characterize the concepts of engagement and engaged-behaviors. This work therefore constitutes an effective support foranalyzing, designing, assessing, andpersonalizing engaging activities in digital games.