Nonlinear Games as Complex Systems: An Approach to Understanding Counterfactual Thinking

Brief Paper ID: 54264
  1. aaa
    Catherine Bacos
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  2. aaa
    PG Schrader
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  3. Michael McCreery
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  4. aaa
    Mark Carroll
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  5. aaa
    Danielle Head
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  6. Joseph Fiorentini
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Abstract: Counterfactual thinking is the act of forming mental representations of past events with the purpose of imagining alternative outcomes. While previously considered dysfunctional, counterfactual thinking has gained support for its beneficial function. For example, counterfactual thinking has been shown to support learning and enhance performance on problem-solving tasks. Given the impact of counterfactual thinking on learning and performance, researchers have used video games with interactive narratives (i.e., participant-shaped storylines also known as nonlinear games) to study how counterfactual thinking and nonlinear game play experiences influence an individual’s subsequent performance. As a complex systems approach to understanding the context-dependent dynamics of learning behavior through game experiences and counterfactual thinking, this paper discusses how changes in behavior in complex systems can be examined by aligning existing theory with novel research methods.

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