This is an independent study project advised by Professor Geoff Kaufman in Fall 2020. The study focuses on developing and testing a set of interactive narrative games that aim to provide players with a deeper understanding of implicit bias and microaggressions toward stereotype-targeted and marginalized groups (e.g., racial minority groups, LGBTQ+ youth). A human-centered design approach will be used to ideate, prototype, and evaluate playable narratives that feature interactions between characters and decision points for the player that are designed to reveal biases in players’ assumptions, expectations, and evaluations of characters from marginalized groups. This process began with a deep engagement with the social science literature on implicit bias and microaggressions before proceeding to the design phase (during which playable interactive narratives will be iteratively prototyped and tested) and the summative research phase, when the completed, playable narrative will be evaluated in an online study investigating the game’s efficacy at increasing players’ awareness of their own unconscious biases.
Software: Adobe XD, Miniscript
Early Interactive Fiction Interface Ideas. Volume circle around the name of the character implies their tone.
Developed Game Flow, Ideas and Notes. Link to Miro Board
Final Interactive Fiction Description:
"You were asked to investigate a missing person case of someone called Lily, and you need to speak to anyone who might’ve known them or what happened the day before they went missing. You are expected to gather hints from these interviews, and organize the evidence based on your judgements."
While playing the game, players should discover that “Lily” has an identity crisis, and she views herself more as a male rather than female. The conversations with those who knew "Lily" reveal the types of microaggressions and biases they faced on a daily basis, which also served as hints to her whereabouts towards the end of the game. Based on the decisions made by the player, they will reach one of the two endings:
1. While "Lily" was away, their family did lots of research on the topic of transgender, and decides to provide their full support. The player reconvenes with "Lily" and their family a few months later at a pride parade, and together they were educating others with their own experiences and beliefs.
2. "Lily"'s family still doesn't understand their thoughts and struggles, and eventually "Lily" decides to travel around the world and go on a journey of self-exploration. They are never alone, because there were people supporting and caring for them in the past, and there will always be people who support them in the future.
The statement of this narrative is: Microaggression can happen anywhere, anytime. Even if a person doesn't intend to be mean / harmful / ignorant, they can still inflict microagression on others.