Is more information better? Examining the effects of visual and cognitive fidelity on learning in a serious video game

Elizabeth S. Veinott, Brandon Perleman, Emily Polander, James Leonard, Gloria Berry, Richard Catrambone, Elizabeth Whitaker, Brianne Eby, Sharon Mayell, Kinneret Teodorescu, Taleri Hammack, Lucas Lemaster

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Does visual fidelity and cognitive fidelity affect learning in a video game? In this paper we present data collected from 65 participants who played one of four different versions of a 3D video game, Heurística, designed to train decision making. We analyzed learning using a 2 cognitive fidelity × 2 visual fidelity between subjects analysis of variance. Our findings indicated that there was an interaction between the two types of fidelity, and no main effects on learning. Participants' learning was best when their visual and cognitive fidelity matched and worse when the visual fidelity was low, but the cognitive fidelity was high. This is one of the first experiments to compare both types of fidelity in a single video game platform experimentally. Our findings suggest that for high level cognitive training such as in Heurística, the fit between visual fidelity and the tasks matters. However, more research is needed with different types of video games and learning objectives.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConference Proceedings - 2014 IEEE Games, Media, Entertainment Conference, IEEE GEM 2014
ISBN (Electronic)9781479975464
DOIs
StatePublished - 24 Feb 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event6th IEEE Consumer Electronics Society Games, Entertainment, and Media, IEEE GEM 2014 - Toronto, Canada
Duration: 22 Oct 201424 Oct 2014

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - 2014 IEEE Games, Media, Entertainment Conference, IEEE GEM 2014

Conference

Conference6th IEEE Consumer Electronics Society Games, Entertainment, and Media, IEEE GEM 2014
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityToronto
Period22/10/1424/10/14

Keywords

  • Video games
  • cognitive fidelity
  • learning
  • serious game
  • visual fidelity

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Software
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
  • Human-Computer Interaction

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