DESIGN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY - PROJECT 3

16/10/2018 - 13/11/2018  (Week 7 - Week 11 )

Ng Shu Zhi (0327158)

Design Research Methodology - Project 3 - Research Implementation

LECTURES
Week 6:
We had a lecture regarding the different methods to collect primary data like observations, surveys, questionnaires and interviews.
Week 7:
We had a lecture regarding the second part to Data Collection which are qualitative and quantitative methods to data collection.


INSTRUCTIONS



WORK
Research method: Questionnaire 

I felt that making a questionnaire, I would like to get people's preferences and opinions with no biased leads so participants can give their own honest opinions.
Plan:

• Compare old Lara Croft designs and have gamers rate them.
• Have focus groups of gamers and ask for their opinions on the older designs and new ones, and have them rate each design.

My Focus groups are:

• People who have played Tomb Raider to get their opinion on her new design on a more personal level since they’ve played the game before
• Gamers who haven’t played Tomb Raider before to get their thoughts on her design and their thoughts on sexualisation

Questions for Tomb Raider players:

1. Would you say Lara Croft is a gaming icon? Please explain your answer
2. How many Tomb Raider games have you played?
3. Within that selection, which Lara Croft design was your favorite(s)?
4. Why do you like the design(s)?
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7. Why do you prefer the decision you've chosen?
8. If Lara Croft's new design continued to be like her old more revealing designs, would you be affected by it?
9. If Lara Croft's old design was like her new design with realistic proportions, would you still enjoy the game?
10. If Lara Croft's new design continued to be like her old more revealing designs, would you be affected by it?
11. If Lara Croft's old design was like her new design with realistic proportions, would you still enjoy the game?
12. How do you feel about Lara Croft being a strong, independent female protagonist?

Question for non Tomb Raider players:

1. What is your gender?
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3. 
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5. How do you feel about Lara's old design?
6. Do you think there is sexualisation in female characters? If yes, please explain how does it make you feel.
7. Do you usually notice the character design while playing a game?
8. How important is relating character design to the environment in a game to you? Please explain why.

Respondents:

• Tomb Raider gamers: 7 l 1 female l 6 male
• Non-Tomb Raider gamers: 25 l 10 female l 15 male

Tomb Raider gamers responses

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Results Summary

• The results from the questionnaire for the Tomb Raider fans showed that a majority of males play the game more than females.
• Even though my questionnaire consistent of more men than women, most of them can agree that they enjoyed the new non sexualised design for Lara Croft rather than her old designs with all respondents picking the new designs as one of their favorites even though given a choice to pick older designs
• When comparing which design participants preferred more in question 7, they all chose the non sexualised one.
• Most respondents either didn’t notice or care about Lara’s design and behavior while playing the game. They were more immersed in the gameplay

Final Discussion

I’ve realised some errors in my questionnaire like not knowing which opinion is from whom so I wouldn’t have been able to specifically say “women were more uncomfortable with the design”  even though it was only to get the general feedback of the gamers, it would’ve been better to be able to make that kind of comparison.

I’ve also realised because this is an anonymous questionnaire, the possibilities for errors such as “uwu” would occur so I should’ve made a specific focus group with people I already know well to get better responses.

Non-Tomb Raider gamers responses

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Results Summary

• Most of the participants agree that there was a sexualised nature to Lara’s old design with a majority being uncomfortable with it and some being pleased with it.
• Majority of people enjoy the newer design, mostly because of the new realistic feel to it
• Almost all of the respondents agree to sexualisation in female character design, with only 2 disagreeing or feeling unphased by the designs. One wants to tickle their pickle in all responses  they gave.
• All of the respondents feel that it is important for character design to relate to the game’s environment because it enhances the immersion into the gameplay better which is interesting even though some respondents answered that they don’t usually notice the character design or are unphased by it.