Title of Thesis

A GROUNDED THEORY FOR ACTIVE VIDEO GAME DESIGN TO PROMOTE GAMER ENGAGEMENT AND IMMERSION by ADELE BRAAF Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Supervisor: Mr Jay Barnes Co-supervisor: Vikki Du Preez Cape Town November 2017 CPUT copyright information The thesis may not be published either in part (in scholarly, scientific or technical journals), or as a whole (as a monograph), unless permission has been obtained from the University i DECLARATION I, Adele Braaf, declare that the contents of this thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Signed Date i ABSTRACT Active Video Games (AVGs) are a form of video games that rely on gamer motion as the main source of interaction between the AVG and the player. These AVGs serve a number of purposes, such as medical rehabilitation, education, social development, and motor skill development, among others. Prolonged play of AVGs is not sustainable as gamers lose interest in playing AVGs after the initial period of acquiring them. Therefore, the following research question was posed: “What design factors contribute to an engaged and immersed AVG experience?” The aim was to explore the inhibiting and enhancing factors influencing engagement and immersion among AVG gamers, as well as to develop a theory of AVG design. Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) was used as the methodology to carry out this study, which adopted an inductive approach towards the research to construct a theory firmly grounded in the data. Play Active Theory (PAT) is the outcome of this process, which explores the engagement and immersion factors related to AVG design as well as the abandonment and replayability of AVGs. PAT was compared to existing engagement and motivation theories as part of the CGT process, and further refined. In closing, the research question was answered and the aims of the study were met. A reflection account of the research journey concludes the thesis. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank: • My supervisor, Mr Jay Barnes, for guiding and motivating me throughout my research experience. Thank you for your unending support, pieces of wisdom, and priceless humour. Your contribution has transformed a research course into an exciting learning adventure and your mentorship has changed my understanding tremendously. Thank you sincerely for sharing your knowledge so freely and willingly and for helping me to accomplish my goals. • My co-supervisor, Mrs Vikki Du Preez, for being a massive anchor throughout my research. Thank you for guiding me through the unknown waters of grounded theory and for your constant reassurance that it is possible to complete. I would like to express a deep heartfelt appreciation for all the support you have given and for helping me to achieve my goals. Your commitment as a supervisor and mentor was incredible and much needed. Thank you! • My mother, Sheila Braaf, for supporting my decision to go back to university and for encouraging me to do what I want to do. Although you had very little understanding of my choice in career or even what a Master’s study entailed, your willingness to encourage me to pursue my goals is appreciated. Thank you, mom! • My fiancé, Adrian Rudolph, for encouraging me to pursue my education and for helping me along the way. Being able to share my work with someone who shares the same interests and hobbies has made my research journey so much more enjoyable. Thank you for all your enthusiasm and support. It has made the difficult moments seem much more bearable. And thank you for keeping me sane! • Dr Andre De La Harpe, thank you for stepping in and seeing to it that I complete my course. Your guidance and assistance helped me to cross the finish line of my work. Thank you for your patience and for taking it upon yourself to proof read and edit my thesis. I really appreciate all the effort you put in and for the time you sacrificed for me to accomplish my goal. This would not have been possible if you had not stepped in when you did. The financial assistance of the National Research Foundation and University Research Foundation towards this research is acknowledged. Opinions expressed in this thesis and the conclusions arrived at, are those of the author, and are not necessarily to be attributed to the National Research Foundation. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. xi GLOSSARY ....................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Contextualisation ...................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Research background .............................................................................................. 2 1.4 Problem statement ................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Research question ................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Aim........................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Delineation ............................................................................................................... 5 1.8 Philosophy ............................................................................................................... 5 1.8.1 Selected research paradigm..................................................................................... 6 1.8.2 Interpretivism paradigm ............................................................................................ 7 1.8.3 Positivism paradigm ................................................................................................. 8 1.8.4 Critical realist paradigm ............................................................................................ 8 1.9 Research strategy .................................................................................................... 9 1.10 Reason for undertaking the study ........................................................................... 10 1.11 Contribution ............................................................................................................ 10 1.12 Ethics ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.13 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 11 1.14 Thesis chapter summary ........................................................................................ 12 1.14.1 Chapter Two: Literature Review ............................................................................. 12 1.14.2 Chapter Three: Research Methodology .................................................................. 12 1.14.3 Chapter Four: Data Collection ................................................................................ 12 1.14.4 Chapter Five: Data Analysis ................................................................................... 12 1.14.5 Chapter Six: Discussion ......................................................................................... 13 1.14.6 Chapter Seven: Reflection ..................................................................................... 13 1.15 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 13 iv CHAPTER TWO: PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................. 14 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Video games .......................................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 AVGs ..................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2 AVG consoles and accessories .............................................................................. 15 2.2.3 Benefits of playing AVGs ........................................................................................ 16 2.2.4 Adoption of AVGs ..................................................................................................

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