A Development of a Serious Game to Improve Readiness Detection Ability to Cognitive Biases

- Evaluation by Critical Thinking Attitude Scale -

Abstract

In today’s world where it has become easy for individuals to disseminate information, we process large amounts of information, and in the process, reader’s beliefs may be influenced by the opinions of others. One reason for this mechanism is cognitive bias, a psychological concept that causes humans to make irrational judgments unconsciously. There are currently more than 100 types of cognitive bias, and it is necessary to recognize errors by these cognitive biases in our thinking and to improve our ability to detect them readily. Therefore, we developed and evaluated a serious game aiming at enhancing readiness detection abilities by recognizing the influence of cognitive biases on oneself through game experiences. In this study, we used the ARCS model, a concept related to learning motivation, and the Critical Thinking Attitude Scale, which assesses the acceptance or rejection of information for evaluation. The results confirmed that the game enhances player’s learning motivation, helps players recognize errors in their logical thinking, and fosters an attitude of seeking judgments based on a broader range of information.