Determine through controlled experiments if there are any repeatable causal influences on those who participate regularly in role playing gaming recreational activities.
Goal 4, determine/validate if there are any correlative demographic idiosyncrasies in variables found between intensely dedicated role-playing gamers, more casual but experienced role playing gamers, and the general population.
Determine if the correlative tests indicating significant differences in role-playing gamers from the general populace, are a causal result of their participation in role-playing games? ...
Attempt to differentiate between correlative and causal data related to role-playing gamers. When possible, use blind, double blind, and triple blind study methodologies.
Though the ultimate goal is to establish causality, there are some correlative aspects that should be checkedinto. Attempt to verify or invalidate existing correlative and meta-research results. Much of the existing research is dated from the 1980's and 1990's. Attempt to bring the research up to date, and verify if there are any statistically significant differences found between role-playing gamers and the general populace, at difference age and other demographic levels...
Recently updated the main page's list of goals. Over the next few weeks, I will elaborate on the details of each of those goals. Here is the overview list:
Last week the PBS Idea Channel ran a piece on Dungeons & Dragons benefits. Today they responded to comments from last weeks video, and mentioned in the comments section of their video (towards the end of the video on Justin Bieber), mentioned RPG Research and suggested people should check out the website.
I guess I should have staged the polls more slowly. Clearly too much attention was drawn by posting too many new polls too closely together. RPG.net just moved ALL the polls effectively to their bit-bucket the Ads/Open Promo Classifieds section, basically spelling the death of those polls. :-(
In addition to reviving the earlier polls, I have added several more polls in rpg.net, here is a list of the current polls running there. I hope to replicate these on other sites as well. It has been a useful process however unscientific the data itself maybe it, it is still interesting....
An entertaining quote from the Serenity RPG...
A little bit of a thread on the rpg.net site about RPG research...
Though it has been slow, people are bit by bit registering to participate in the research project in one form or another.
According to reports from vendors, sales of Video Games were actually down 8% during the first 7 months of 2010, while Hobby games, including Role Playing Games, sales were all up across the board...
I recently added a new section to the website under the Documents section, books. These are various books that I have read, am reading, or plan to read. They are related in some way to any of the following: role-playing gaming, therapy, psychology, psychology research, recreation therapy, play therapy, neuropsychology, cognitive neuropsychology, bio and neuro feedback, and similar topics. I hope this resource will be helpful for others in their research as well.
Some notes for future reading, research, and commentary.
Both the online and print registration forms and questionnaires are now available to the general public to fill out and submit...
I was running around town trying to track down various books for my son and others today. While I was at the downtown Riverside Mall en route to the Auntie's book store there (they had one of the books I needed on hold for me), I noted a store I had not seen before calling itself "Calendar Club Go Games". I decided to find out if they carried any role-playing games...
Though I've had the books for some time, it was not until this weekend that my eldest son finally indicated he wanted to make a character. Vampire: The Requiem RPG One of his friends was at first interested, but when he skimmed through the core book, he lost interest because of it being in his view so different from the LARP version, Vampire: The Masquerade that he was learning from a friend of his. I can not yet speak to that, though I do have many of the Masquerade books too, including the 2nd edition core book. So far...
We have been playing the Serenity (aka Firefly) Role-playing Game now for several weeks in a row. It is very much enjoyed by everyone due to the feel and setting of the game. Here are a few thoughts about the game so far...
I was just running the usual periodic search for anything related to RPG research or RPG therapy, and found out there is a group in Israel recently attempting to use role playing games as an assist to therapy for children. The original site is in Hebrew, so I have to rely on the postings from "Purple Pawn" to keep posted. Though my stepfather is Jewish, if I could talk him into reading it for me....
A number of people have suggested undertaking research on whether using RPGs could be helpful or harmful for war veterans struggling with PTSD.
It has been a very busy couple of months actually doing role playing gaming with a number of different RPG systems. I haven't posted in a while, so thought I would give a quick update on what I have been working with lately...
I have delved a little further into the Warhammer Fantasy Role Play rules, and from what I am seeing, I have a working theory as to where WH FRP may have it's usefulness for a specific subtype of role playing gamer, the immature player.
Just some thoughts on some of the independent variables to modify and then observe the different results (if any)...
Which state & federal legislators have engaged in role-playing gaming?
Still going to be a while before can test these hypotheses, but here are some ideas about potential benefits and uses of different RPG formats for different population needs. If you have ideas, corrections, suggestions, additions, please do comment to help add to the list for future potential testing inclusion.
Some interesting observations.
Just an idea for super simple introduction to d20 most basics. Can make a character in just a couple of minutes, and start playing a short, simple adventure, with the most rudimentary of RPG system concepts.
Story #__: ____________________. A series of anecdotal postings sharing observations, comments, and other relevant experiences, about the effects of role-playing gaming...
