The Impact of Mental Model in Older Adults’ Experience of Digital Games

Abstract

As digital gaming becomes more popular among older adults, many researchers have studied elements that affect older adults’ adoption of digital games, including motivation ((Ijsselsteijn et al., 2007), potential health benefits(Hall et al., 2012), and preferences (Brown, 2012). This paper aims to explore the impact of the mental model in older adults’ experience of digital games. The study conducted in-person interviews with participants of different ages and self-rated game experience levels. Each participant fills out their rating for each game category’s preference and comfort level with the rules. Nine participants met the criteria and were included in the study. After analyzing the data, the study found a correlation between older adults’ comfort level with game rules and game preference, as well as discrepancies among different categories due to participants previous experience. The result shows that older adults’ previous experience with games form mental models which have an impact on their comfort level with different game rules. Their previous experience also form mental models about games in general and themselves, which have an impact in their adoption of various digital games. The results of the study gives valuable implications for digital game designers to make the digital experience more accessible for the expanding aging demographic.