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Enabling Players to Develop Theories of Change for Sustainable Development: A Serious Game

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  • Theresa Tribaldos
  • Flurina Schneider

Abstract

Introduction Sustainable development and sustainability transformations have reached high urgency on national and international agendas and involve new knowledge and learning processes. Transdisciplinary co-production of knowledge as a research approach in combination with the methodological elaboration of theories of change have potential to support transformative learning processes. Both approaches engage with questions about the actors involved, impact pathways, or the role of power and agency in a given context. Intervention We introduce the THEORY OF CHANGE GAME, which applies theory of change thinking to transdisciplinary projects aiming for sustainable development. A combination of board and card game , it evolves around collaborative discussions. Method We explain the iterative development rounds of the game through several game sessions in different settings and analyse whether and how the game supports social learning for sustainable development . To assess social learning, we draw on the typology developed by Baird et al. (2014) , which includes cognitive, relational, and normative learning. Results The iterative development rounds took place first in academic settings and then in a non-academic event. Our observations during the game and the debriefing rounds after the game demonstrate that social learning takes place in the form of cognitive and relational learning. Verified findings on normative learning would need other assessment approaches. Discussion and conclusion Several development rounds supported the design of a game that is suitable to support social learning for sustainable development . We see the potential of the game mainly in cognitive and relational learning. Further work on gamification elements could help to enhance the entertainment component of the game.

Suggested Citation

  • Theresa Tribaldos & Flurina Schneider, 2021. "Enabling Players to Develop Theories of Change for Sustainable Development: A Serious Game," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 52(5), pages 664-678, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:52:y:2021:i:5:p:664-678
    DOI: 10.1177/10468781211022399
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy C. Clapper, 2018. "Serious Games Are Not All Serious," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 49(4), pages 375-377, August.
    2. Stina Hansson & Merritt Polk, 2018. "Assessing the impact of transdisciplinary research: The usefulness of relevance, credibility, and legitimacy for understanding the link between process and impact," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 27(2), pages 132-144.
    3. Robert-Jan Den Haan & Mascha C. Van der Voort, 2018. "On Evaluating Social Learning Outcomes of Serious Games to Collaboratively Address Sustainability Problems: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Datu Buyung Agusdinata & Heide Lukosch, 2019. "Supporting Interventions to Reduce Household Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Transdisciplinary Role-Playing Game Development," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 50(3), pages 359-376, June.
    5. Franck Taillandier & Carole Adam, 2018. "Games Ready to Use: A Serious Game for Teaching Natural Risk Management," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 49(4), pages 441-470, August.
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    1. Sylvain, Dernat & Bertrand, Dumont & Dominique, Vollet, 2023. "La Grange®: A generic game to reveal trade-offs and synergies among stakeholders in livestock farming areas," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    2. Agnessa Spanellis & J. Tuomas Harviainen & Daniel Fernández Galeote & Mattia Thibault, 2024. "Gamification for Sustainable Development," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 55(3), pages 361-365, June.

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