CIS Proposal Defense: Chong-Hyuck Park, "The effect of narrative flexibility, problem solving style, and familarity on the enjoyment of computer games" (6/3/2009)

 
This study attempts to examine the effect of narrative flexibility, problem solving style, and familiarity on the enjoyment of computer games. The usage of computer, video, or online games and related factors have been one of the main topics in many previous studies. One problem with these studies is that either individual differences or game characteristics were not considered. That is, many previous studies lacked an interactive perspective when they examined interactive media of computer games. This study tries to address this problem by examining both different narrative flexibilities and different problem solving styles. The interaction between these factors will be examined across different levels of familiarity.

Many previous studies focus on the usage, particularly pathological one as a dependent variable. This study focuses on personal experience of enjoyment rather than usage based on the assumption that the usage of a computer game depends on how much one enjoys it. Based on the idea of Csikszentmihalyi, this study measures the enjoyment of a computer game in terms of concentration and immersion/involvement and the nature of enjoyment in terms of novelty and achievement. In addition, one’s intention to continue the play of a computer game will be measured as a result of enjoyment.