Supporting Dialogue and Analysis on Trade-Offs in Climate Adaptation Research With the Maladaptation Game

Tina-Simone Neset,Janina Käyhkö,Victoria Wibeck,Erik Glaas,Björn-Ola Linnér,Carlo Navarra,Lotten Wiréhn,Sirkku Juhola,Therese Asplund

doi:10.1177/1046878120904393

Tina-Simone Neset, Janina Käyhkö + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/1046878120904393

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Abstract

Background. Serious games are gaining increasing prominence in environmental communication research, but their potential to form an integrated part of participatory research approaches is still strikingly understudied. This is particularly the case for applications of interactive digital formats in research on environmental challenges of high complexity, such as climate adaptation, which is a specifically suitable case as it involves complex interaction between climate systems and society, but where the response also involves trade-offs with potentially negative – maladaptive – outcomes.Intervention. This article presents the Maladaptation Game, which was designed to facilitate dialogue about potential negative outcomes of agricultural climate adaptation.Methods. We conducted test sessions with agricultural stakeholders in Finland and Sweden, and analysed quantitative and qualitative, audio-recorded and transcribed, material for opportunities and challenges related to dialogues, engagement, interactivity and experienced relevance.Results. The qualitative analysis of recorded dialogues shows that the Maladaptation Game has potential to support dialogue by challenging players to negotiate between options with negative outcomes. The gameplay itself presents opportunities in terms of creating engagement with options that provoke disagreement and debates between players, as well as interactivity, that players reflected upon as quick and easy, while challenges were related to the experienced relevance, in particular the options provided in the game, and its general framing.Conclusions. The results indicate a need for complementary approaches to this type of game but also suggest the importance of moderation when the game design is aimed at creating dialogue around a complex environmental challenge such as agricultural climate adaptation.

Highlights

Serious games are gaining increasing prominence in environmental communication research, but their potential to form an integrated part of participatory research approaches is still strikingly understudied
The results indicate a need for complementary approaches to this type of game and suggest the importance of moderation when the game design is aimed at creating dialogue around a complex environmental challenge such as agricultural climate adaptation
There is a lack of knowledge about how target audiences for climate adaptation games react to games in which choices and examples differ from their immediate understandings of adequate options for decision-making

Summary

Introduction

Serious games are gaining increasing prominence in environmental communication research, but their potential to form an integrated part of participatory research approaches is still strikingly understudied. Games that focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation are an increasingly prominent feature within the fields of climate change communication, participatory research and collaborative learning (Flood et al, 2018; Ouariachi et al, 2017; Reckien & Eisenack, 2013; Valkering et al, 2013) These games are designed for students, lay audiences or expert groups and focus on urban, rural or generic infrastructural or planning challenges, and range from role plays and board games to digital games.

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