Research
The serious game Talk That Talk is designed and evaluated during a master thesis project of the Master’s Engineering and Policy Analysis at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Goal
Talk That Talk is an evidence-based game designed to encourage an intergroup dialogue among students about sexual violence against women. The main goal of the game is to promote ethical bystander behaviour in situations of sexually transgressive behaviour (STB).
The game evaluation was focussed on the outcome variables:
- Sexual violence myth acceptance
- Bystander Attitudes: awarenss and responsibility
- The willingness to intervene in STB-situations.
- Intergroup Dialogue
Outcome
The game proved to have a significant positive effect on the bystander attitudes and the willingness to intervene. No significant difference was found in sexual violence myth acceptance. Additionally, the game proved to promote an effective intergroup dialogue between the participants.
Approach
Literature research and brainstorm sessions were conducted with female and male students from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)to gain a better understanding of the system and context of sexual violence among students. These methods were used as part of participatory game design research. Moreover, a quasi-controlled experimental trial was conducted with 64 TU Delft students from different nationalities and study backgrounds.
Definitions
Ethical Bystander Behaviour
Someone who attempts to influence a situation that harms another individual in a positive manner, taking into consideration their own safety and wellbeing.
Intergroup Dialogue
An interactive and student-centred approach that brings peers from different identity groups, such as gender identities, together in a facilitated and supported face-to-face environment for participatory learning about societal inequalities in the community.
Serious Game
Games that have another primary purpose than entertainment. These games have a specific educational purpose and are thus not only meant to be amusing.
Sexually Transgressive Behaviour
Covers all forms of behaviour that is sexual from nature and crosses
the boundaries of another person. This can range from either
physical to psychological transgressive behaviour
Sexual Violence
Defined by European Centre for Constitutional and Human Right as “any deliberate (violent act) of a sexual nature, carried out without consent or the capacity to consent, which is not only limited to physical violence or contact”.
Sexual Violence Myth Acceptance
Attitudes and beliefs about sexual violence that are generally false but are widely and persistently held, and that serve to deny and justify male sexual aggression against women.