Brief

Roles: Project Lead and Principle Researcher
Year: 2023-ongoing (Dissertation work)
Team: 2 Researchers and 1 Faculty Mentor
Tools: Figma, Excel Sheet, Visual Studio Code, Unity
Programming Language: Python

Problem Statement

In digital environments, particularly in gaming, the use of gendered language can influence player engagement, immersion, and inclusivity. Many languages are inherently gendered, which can result in some players feeling less represented or uncomfortable, leading to lower engagement. As society becomes more aware of the importance of inclusivity, the need for gender-neutral language in digital spaces grows. The challenge arises in how altering the language within a game impacts user engagement and behavior, particularly when shifting from traditional gendered language to a more neutral or inclusive form. There is little empirical data on how these changes influence user experience and interaction.

Solution

To explore this, we working towards designing a game that dynamically switches between gendered and gender-neutral language. The game tracks and analyzes changes in user engagement, immersion, and interaction patterns when the language shifts. By measuring user activity (e.g., time spent, interaction frequency, emotional response, and satisfaction), we can observe how language inclusivity impacts user experience. The game also includes pre- and post-game surveys to assess subjective feedback on language inclusivity and its perceived effects on player immersion and enjoyment.

Challenges

1. Cultural and Linguistic Variability: Different languages have varying degrees of gendered constructs, and players from diverse linguistic backgrounds may respond differently. Balancing these differences is a challenge when designing the game and interpreting results.
2. Measuring Engagement Effectively: Engagement is a multi-faceted concept, encompassing time spent, emotional investment, and interaction depth. Defining the appropriate metrics and ensuring the language change is the primary factor influencing engagement requires careful experimental design.
3. Player Bias and Preconceptions: Players may enter the experiment with biases or preconceptions about gender-neutral language, which could skew results. Additionally, some players may have different thresholds for noticing language changes, impacting the study’s ability to detect meaningful engagement patterns.
4. Maintaining Narrative Flow: Gendered language is often woven into the narrative and character dialogue of games. Switching to neutral language can potentially disrupt the narrative flow or emotional connection to characters, affecting overall immersion.