RPGer-turned-academic-psychologist seeks TTRPG players to complete a short survey (15-30 mins depending how fast you go) in aid of a research project investigating who plays TTRPGs and why. Any help very much appreciated! Approved by the psychology ethics committee at City St.. George's, University of London. Link below, and any questions just ping me at steven.samuel@citystgeorges.ac.uk.
Still going through the data but some first really interesting findings have emerged.
So, there were a total of 319 people who completed the survey and passed the attention checks. Average age of 39, mostly male. All recruited via various TTRPG forums like this.
To the question: "Imagine your player-character was aided an important way by another player-character. Would you feel grateful to the real person playing the character?"
75% said yes. Overwhelming majority. 11% said no, and 15% not sure.
To the question: "Imagine your player-character was promised something important by another player-character. However, your player-character was betrayed by the other player-character. Would you feel angry with the real person playing the character?"
Now 62% said NO. Only 17% said yes, with the rest unsure.
I mentioned this finding to Jon Peterson (RPG historian) and he thought this might reflect gamers' desire not to take other players' harmful actions against their characters personally. I thought it could mean that players might be surprised (pleasantly) when other players do them a good turn, but expect the opposite.
Another interesting but perhaps less surprising finding was that older age correlated negatively with power gaming (maximising rules to one's advantage) and positively with a greater emphasis on realistic simulation in gaming.
Thank you all for your help! Will post more as it's analysed.
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Will be closing this end Sunday 2nd November then analysing. Thank you all for your help! Will summarise results back here when known.
Still going through the data but some first really interesting findings have emerged.
So, there were a total of 319 people who completed the survey and passed the attention checks. Average age of 39, mostly male. All recruited via various TTRPG forums like this.
To the question: "Imagine your player-character was aided an important way by another player-character. Would you feel grateful to the real person playing the character?"
75% said yes. Overwhelming majority. 11% said no, and 15% not sure.
To the question: "Imagine your player-character was promised something important by another player-character. However, your player-character was betrayed by the other player-character. Would you feel angry with the real person playing the character?"
Now 62% said NO. Only 17% said yes, with the rest unsure.
I mentioned this finding to Jon Peterson (RPG historian) and he thought this might reflect gamers' desire not to take other players' harmful actions against their characters personally. I thought it could mean that players might be surprised (pleasantly) when other players do them a good turn, but expect the opposite.
Another interesting but perhaps less surprising finding was that older age correlated negatively with power gaming (maximising rules to one's advantage) and positively with a greater emphasis on realistic simulation in gaming.
Thank you all for your help! Will post more as it's analysed.