The task-attention theory of game learning: a theory and research agenda
File(s)
Author(s)
Cutting, Joe
Deterding, Sebastian
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Why do learning games fail or succeed? Recent evidence suggests that attention forms an important moderator of learning from games. While existing media effects and learning theories acknowledge the role of attentional limits, they fail to account for the specific ways that games as interactive media steer attention. In response, we here develop the Task-Attention Theory of Game Learning. Drawing on current psychological and games research, task-attention theory argues that games as interactive media demand and structure the pursuit of tasks, which ties into distinct attentional mechanisms, namely learned attentional sets which focus attentional selection onto task-relevant features, as well as active sampling: users navigate and manipulate the game to elicit task-relevant information. This active sampling and selection precedes and moderates what information can be learned. We identify task-related game features (mechanics, goals, rewards and uncertainty) and demands (cognitive and perceptual load, pressure) that affect active sampling and attentional selection. We articulate implications and future work for game-based learning research and design, as well as wider media effects, learning, and HCI research.
Date Issued
2024-11-01
Date Acceptance
2022-02-21
Citation
Human-Computer Interaction, 2024, 39 (5-6), pp.257-287
ISSN
0737-0024
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Start Page
257
End Page
287
Journal / Book Title
Human-Computer Interaction
Volume
39
Issue
5-6
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/),
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this
article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/),
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this
article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07370024.2022.2047971
Subjects
Attention
Games, Recreational
Learning
active sampling
attentional selection
game-based learning
serious games
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-04-19