This study discusses the importance of rigorous design research in the development of an educational game for an academic research project sponsored by an established non-profit diabetes association. The goal of this project was to create a board game to engage children with diabetes, their friends and parents in the diabetic’s daily personal health management, the self-management requirements of which are hard to understand and maintain. The board gameformat was perceived as a highly appropriate form of communication because of its capacity to simplify large concepts, making them appropriate for the experiential learning required to master complex information.
Research and design process of this case study involved collaborations with graduate student researchers, sponsor clients, subject experts, and faculty advisors. The design team collaborated during several stages of research, and developed a research model for educational board game design encompassing many design research methods, starting with a data gathering stage including interviews and literature review, a creative stage including participatory research methods and generative tools, and an evaluative stage including usability testing and pilot testing. The research model is designed to follow an iterative design process, allowing for the most informative participation from all participants.
This study summarizes the collaborative and rigorous research process used in the identification and development of relevant content that informed the design development of an emotionally connective and engaging game that was fun, educational, and significant to the management of diabetes.