Abstract
experiment to analyse human behavior during epidemics of an
infectious disease. The experiment used a two-dimensional computer
game representing an epidemic scenario, linked to an agentbased
simulation of an epidemic spreading through a large population.
230 participants played the game and completed questionnaires
about their characteristics in relation to a psychological
model of health behaviour, Protection Motivation Theory. The
results show that participants responded to increasing infection
load in their local neighbourhood by reducing their social contacts,
as they would be expected to do in reality. However, there was no
correlation between the strength of this response and a number of
psychological factors that are known to be associated with health
protective behavior in the real world. This suggests that participants
might not have responded to the game in the same way they
would respond to a real epidemic. We discuss possible explanations
for this mismatch, drawing on ideas from experimental behavioral
economics, psychology, computer game design, and the
study of virtual worlds, and suggest ways in which our experimental
methodology could be improved to produce a more realistic
response.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2013 |
| Event | Summer Simulation Multi-Conference 2013 - Toronto, United Kingdom Duration: 7 Jul 2013 → 10 Jul 2013 |
Conference
| Conference | Summer Simulation Multi-Conference 2013 |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| City | Toronto |
| Period | 7/07/13 → 10/07/13 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- health psychology
- epidemics
- participatory simulation
- virtual experiments
- behavioral economics
Cite this
}
Reflections on a virtual experiment addressing human behavior during epidemics. / Delaney, Liam; Kleczkowski, Adam; Maharaj, Savi ; Rasmussen, Susan; Williams, Lynn.
2013. Paper presented at Summer Simulation Multi-Conference 2013, Toronto, United Kingdom.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
TY - CONF
T1 - Reflections on a virtual experiment addressing human behavior during epidemics
AU - Delaney, Liam
AU - Kleczkowski, Adam
AU - Maharaj, Savi
AU - Rasmussen, Susan
AU - Williams, Lynn
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - We report on preliminary results from a pilot study using a virtualexperiment to analyse human behavior during epidemics of aninfectious disease. The experiment used a two-dimensional computergame representing an epidemic scenario, linked to an agentbasedsimulation of an epidemic spreading through a large population.230 participants played the game and completed questionnairesabout their characteristics in relation to a psychologicalmodel of health behaviour, Protection Motivation Theory. Theresults show that participants responded to increasing infectionload in their local neighbourhood by reducing their social contacts,as they would be expected to do in reality. However, there was nocorrelation between the strength of this response and a number ofpsychological factors that are known to be associated with healthprotective behavior in the real world. This suggests that participantsmight not have responded to the game in the same way theywould respond to a real epidemic. We discuss possible explanationsfor this mismatch, drawing on ideas from experimental behavioraleconomics, psychology, computer game design, and thestudy of virtual worlds, and suggest ways in which our experimentalmethodology could be improved to produce a more realisticresponse.
AB - We report on preliminary results from a pilot study using a virtualexperiment to analyse human behavior during epidemics of aninfectious disease. The experiment used a two-dimensional computergame representing an epidemic scenario, linked to an agentbasedsimulation of an epidemic spreading through a large population.230 participants played the game and completed questionnairesabout their characteristics in relation to a psychologicalmodel of health behaviour, Protection Motivation Theory. Theresults show that participants responded to increasing infectionload in their local neighbourhood by reducing their social contacts,as they would be expected to do in reality. However, there was nocorrelation between the strength of this response and a number ofpsychological factors that are known to be associated with healthprotective behavior in the real world. This suggests that participantsmight not have responded to the game in the same way theywould respond to a real epidemic. We discuss possible explanationsfor this mismatch, drawing on ideas from experimental behavioraleconomics, psychology, computer game design, and thestudy of virtual worlds, and suggest ways in which our experimentalmethodology could be improved to produce a more realisticresponse.
KW - health psychology
KW - epidemics
KW - participatory simulation
KW - virtual experiments
KW - behavioral economics
UR - http://scs.org/documents/SummerSim13/SummerSim13%20-%20Program%20Final%20v9.pdf
UR - http://www.academia.edu/4201946/Reflections_on_a_Virtual_Experiment_Addressing_Human_Behavior_During_Epidemics
M3 - Paper
ER -