The effects of observation in video games

How remote observation influences player experience, motivation, and behaviour

Bibliographic Data

ID21452064
AuthorsDominic Kao (0000-0002-7732-6258, Computer & Information Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume41
Issue9
Pages1905-1927
Publication date2022-07-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBehaviour and Information Technology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-929X • E-ISSN: 1362-3001
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0144929x.2021.1906321
OpenAlexW3152829533
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited73

Surveillance is ubiquitous. It is well known that the presence of other people (in-person or remote, actual or perceived) increases performance on simple tasks and decreases performance in complex tasks (Zajonc 1965). But little is known about these phenomena in the context of video games, with recent advances finding that they do not necessarily extend to games (Emmerich and Masuch 2018). In Experiment 1 (N=1489; No Observation vs. Researcher Observing), we find that participants observed by a researcher played significantly longer, and performed significantly better, across three video games. Moreover, we find some support that participants observed by a researcher score higher on player experience and intrinsic motivation. In Experiment 2 (N=843; Researcher Observing vs. Professor Observing), we seek to understand whether different roles differing in their perceived evaluativeness would influence the effects of observation. We find that participants observed by a professor had, at times, significantly lower performance, player experience, intrinsic motivation, playing time, and higher anxiety. In Experiment 3 (N=1358; No Observation vs. Researcher Observing), we further validate Experiment 1 by extending our results to three additional game genres. Here, we provide the largest study on observation in video games to date. The study is also the first to show that observer type can significantly influence player outcomes

Cognitive psychology · Context (archaeology) · Intrinsic motivation · Multimedia · Observer (physics) · Video game · Applied Psychology · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Computer Science · Educational Games and Gamification · Media Influence and Health · Psychology · Social Psychology

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