Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Little Big Difference: Gender Aspects and Gender-Based Adaptation in Educational Games

  • Conference paper
Learning by Playing. Game-based Education System Design and Development (Edutainment 2009)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 5670))

Abstract

Computer games are tremendously successful and this is why the potential of using this medium for educational purposes is increasingly recognized and researched. However, as new learning technologies need to be appropriate for all students and ensure equal learning opportunities, it is important to take into account evidences on gender differences in the context of computer games. This paper reviews relevant research results on gender aspects. Aiming for the realization of gender-based adaptation in digital educational games, a model incorporating research evidences on gender aspects is elaborated and implications for adaptation are derived. Adaptation principles and game design are illustrated by means of the 80Days project.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Prensky, M.: Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon 9, 1–2 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kickmeier-Rust, M.D., Peirce, N., Conlan, O., Schwarz, D., Verpoorten, D., Albert, D.: Immersive Digital Games: The Interfaces for Next-Generation E-Learning? In: Stephanidis, C. (ed.) HCI 2007. LNCS, vol. 4556, pp. 647–656. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Boyle, E., Conolly, T.: Games for Learning: Does Gender Make a Difference? In: Conolly, T., Stansfield, M. (eds.) Proceedings of the 2nd European Conference on Games Based Learning, pp. 69–75. Academic Publishing Limited, Reading (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bonanno, P., Kommers, P.A.M.: Exploring the Influence of Gender and Gaming Competence on Attitudes towards Instructional Games. British Journal of Educational Technology 39, 97–109 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gorriz, C.M., Medina, M.: Engaging Girls with Computers through Software Games. Communications of the ACM 43, 42–49 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ivory, J.D.: Still a Man’s Game: Gender Representation in Online Reviews of Video Games. Mass Communication & Society 9, 103–114 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bonanno, P., Kommers, P.A.M.: Gender Differences and Styles in the Use of Digital Games. Educational Psychology 25, 13–41 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Phillips, C.A., Rolls, S., Rouse, A., Griffiths, M.D.: Home Video Game Playing in Schoolchildren: A Study of Incidence and Patterns of Play. Journal of Adolescence 18, 687–691 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hartmann, T., Klimmt, C.: Gender and Computer Games: Exploring Females’ Dislikes. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 11, 910–931 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. McClelland, D.C.: Methods of Measuring Human Motivation. In: Atkinson, J.W. (ed.) The Achieving Society, pp. 41–43. D. Van Nostrand, Princeton (1961)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Gneezy, U., Niederle, M., Rustichini, A.: Performance in Competitive Environments: Gender Differences. Quarterly Journal of Economics 118, 1049–1074 (2003)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Zuckerman, M.: Sensation Seeking: Beyond the Optimal Level of Arousal. Erlbaum, Hillsdale (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Arnett, J.J.: Sensation Seeking, Aggressiveness, and Adolescent Reckless Behavior. Personality and Individual Differences 20, 693–702 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lucas, K., Sherry, J.L.: Sex Differences in Video Game Play: A Communication-Based Explanation. Communication Research 31, 499–523 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Slater, M.D.: Alienation, Aggression, and Sensation Seeking as Predictor of Adolescent Use of Violent Film, Computer, and Website Content. Journal of Communication 53, 105–121 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Jansz, J.: The Emotional Appeal of Violent Video Games for Adolescent Males. Communication Theory 15, 219–241 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Agosto, D.: Girls and Gaming: A Summary of the Research with Implications for Practice. Teacher Librarian 31, 8–14 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Connolly, T.M., Boyle, E.A., Stansfield, M.H., Hainey, T.: A Survey of Students’ Computer Game Playing Habits. International Journal for Advanced Technology for Learning 4 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Passig, D., Levin, H.: Gender Interest Differences with Multimedia Learning Interfaces. Computers in Human Behavior 15, 173–183 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Dickey, M.D.: Girl Gamers: The Controversy of Girl Games and the Relevance of Female-Oriented Game Design for Instructional Design. British Journal of Educational Technology 37, 785–793 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Yee, N.: The Demographics, Motivations, and Derived Experiences of Users of Massively Multi-user Online Graphical Environments. Presence 15, 309–329 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hargittai, E., Shafer, S.: Differences in Actual and Perceived Online Skills: The Role of Gender. Social Science Quarterly 87, 432–448 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Halpern, D.F.: Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Sherry, J.L.: Flow and Media Enjoyment. Communication Theory 14, 328–347 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Feng, J., Spence, I., Pratt, J.: Playing an Action Video Game Reduces Gender Differences in Spatial Cognition. Psychological Science 18, 850–855 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Graner Ray, S.: Gender Inclusive Game Design. Charles River Media Inc., Hingham (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  27. De Jean, J., Upitis, R., Koch, C., Young, J.: The Story of Phoenix Quest: How Girls Respond to a Prototype Language and Mathematics Computer Game. Gender and Education 11, 207–223 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Inal, Y., Sancar, H., Cagiltay, K.: Children’s Avatar Preferences and their Personalities. In: Crawford, C., et al. (eds.) Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2006, pp. 4259–4266. AACE, Chesapeake (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Nowak, K.L., Rauh, C.: The Influence of the Avatar on Online Perceptions of Anthropomorphism, Androgyny, Credibility, Homophily, and Attraction. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 11 (2005), http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol11/issue1/

  30. Cassell, J.: Genderizing HCI. In: Jacko, J., Sears, A. (eds.) The Handbook of Human-Computer Interaction, pp. 402–411. Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Laurel, B.: Utopian Entrepreneur. MIT Press, Cambridge (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Heller, J., Steiner, C., Hockemeyer, C., Albert, D.: Competence-Based Knowledge Structures for Personalised Learning. International Journal on E-Learning 5, 75–88 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kickmeier-Rust, M.D., Hockemeyer, C., Albert, D., Augustin, T.: Micro Adaptive, Non-invasive Assessment in Educational Games. In: Eisenberg, M., Kinshuk, C.M., McGreal, R. (eds.) Proceedings of the second IEEE International Conference on Digital Game and Intelligent Toy Enhanced Learning, Banff, pp. 135–138 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kickmeier-Rust, M.D., Albert, D., Roth, R.: A Methodological Approach to Address Individual Factors and Gender Differences in Adaptive eLearning. In: Siebenhandl, K., Wagner, M., Zauchner, S. (eds.) Gender in E-Learning and Educational Games: A Reader, pp. 71–84. Studienverlag, Innsbruck (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Albert, D., Lukas, J. (eds.): Knowledge Spaces: Theories, Empirical Research, and Applications. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Doignon, J.-P., Falmagne, J.-C.: Knowledge Spaces. Springer, Berlin (1999)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  37. Melis, E., Ulrich, C.: Gender-Biased Adaptations in Educational Adaptive Hypermedia. In: Neijdl, W., De Bra, P. (eds.) AH 2004. LNCS, vol. 3137, pp. 425–428. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. Hall, R.H., Hickman, L.L.: Imagic and Textual Components of Web Page Design: The Role of Gender in Subjective Ratings. Virtual University Journal, 2 (1999), http://lite.mst.edu/documents/vuj_99_hall_gender.pdf

  39. Cyr, D., Bonnani, C.: Gender and Website Design in E-business. International Journal of Electronic Business 3, 565–582 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Deaux, K., Farris, E.: Attributing Causes for One’s Own Performance: The Effects of Sex, Norms, and Outcome. Journal of Research in Personality 11, 59–72 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Dickhäuser, O., Stiensmeier-Pelster, J.: Gender Differences in the Choice of Computer Courses: Applying an Expectancy-Value Model. Social Psychology of Education 6, 173–189 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Ziegler, A., Stoeger, H.: Evaluation of an Attributional Retraining (Modelling Technique) to Reduce Gender Differences in Chemistry Instruction. High Ability Studies 15, 63–83 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Dweck, C.S.: Self-Theories: Their Role in Motivation, Personality and Development. Psychology Press, Philadelphia (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Danielsson, K., Wiberg, C.: Paricipatory Design of Learning Media: Designing Educational Computer Games with and for Teenagers. Interactive Technology and Smart Education 3, 275–291 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Cognitive Science Section, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Christina M. Steiner, Michael D. Kickmeier-Rust & Dietrich Albert

Authors
  1. Christina M. Steiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael D. Kickmeier-Rust
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dietrich Albert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing and Information Systems 1200, Athabasca University, 10011-109 Street, T5J-3S8, Edmont, Canada

    Maiga Chang

  2. Department of Digital Design 369, Ming Dao University, Wen-Hua Dr., Peetow, 52345, ChangHua, Taiwan

    Rita Kuo

  3. School of Computing and Inforamtion Systems, Athabasca University, 1 University Drive, T9S 3A3, Athabasca, AB, Canada

    Kinshuk

  4. Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, 300, Jhongda Rd., 32001, Jhongli City, Taiwan

    Gwo-Dong Chen

  5. Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8656, Tokyo, Japan

    Michitaka Hirose

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Steiner, C.M., Kickmeier-Rust, M.D., Albert, D. (2009). Little Big Difference: Gender Aspects and Gender-Based Adaptation in Educational Games. In: Chang, M., Kuo, R., Kinshuk, Chen, GD., Hirose, M. (eds) Learning by Playing. Game-based Education System Design and Development. Edutainment 2009. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5670. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03364-3_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03364-3_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-03363-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-03364-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation