Effects of serious games on team building in a multi-user virtual environment

Abstract

The aim of this study is measuring the effects of serious game on team building in a multi-user virtual environment. For this purpose serious game Zoom which has been used in real life for team building was adapted into online multi-user virtual environment. 43 people played the game as a group which consists of different number of participants. After comprehensive literature review, a questionnaire which consists of both closed-ended and open-ended questions was prepared in order to measure the effects of serious game on team building in a multi-user virtual environment. Participants declared their ideas about the serious game by filling this questionnaire. The responses to the close-ended questions were analyzed by using The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, reliabilities were tested by Cronbach’s Alpha analysis and hypotheses were tested by applying Regression and Multiple Regression analysis. In addition to this the responses to the open-ended questions were examined. Analysis of data gathered from close-ended questions shows that physical characteristics of the serious game environment and attitudes of participants toward serious game affect the team building success and these two relations are moderated by personality of the participants. As a result of examination of open-ended questions that participants described the serious game in a multi-user virtual environment as helpful, relevant, on purpose and entertaining. Also they stated that this game and the games similar to this can be used as an alternative to the face-to-face team building games.