Playing with planning : evaluating games as a method of participatory planning and policymaking

Abstract

In the past decade, planners and cities have made increasing use of engagement games as a form of participatory planning and policymaking. Games are often presented as a remedy for the shortcomings of traditional participatory processes. This thesis seeks to investigate those assumptions by situating engagement games in the theory of participatory planning. First, it reviews the literature on participatory planning to elucidate the primary goals and problems of participatory processes and to create a framework to evaluate engagement games. Then, a review of previous games used in planning reveals engagement games' relative strengths. Next, the thesis considers two case studies of engagement games used for participatory planning: the Big Easy Budget Game in New Orleans, LA, and the San Jose Budget Games in San Jose, CA. A comparison of these two case studies using the framework reveals that they both significantly contribute to situated learning. Other outcomes such as social learning, political efficacy, and involvement of marginalized groups depend on the design of the game as well as the design of the larger participatory forum in which it is played. The thesis hopes to offer planners, cities, and advocacy groups interested in using games to improve participatory processes a practical overview of the value of engagement games and the features which enable them to contribute to the goals of participatory processes.