Role-Playing Games in Natural Resource Management and Research. Lessons Learned from Theory and Practice
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Standard
In: Geographical Journal, Vol. 184, No. 3, 09.2018, p. 298-309.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Role-Playing Games in Natural Resource Management and Research. Lessons Learned from Theory and Practice
AU - Wesselow, Maren
AU - Stoll-Kleemann, Susanne
N1 - Publisher Copyright: The information, practices and views in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). © 2018 The Authors. The Geographical Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers).
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - Participatory games are valued by many researchers as innovative tools to facilitate science-practice communication in transdisciplinary research processes. This article explores the diverse potentials of role-playing games (RPGs) in natural resource research and management. Based on a literature review, we discuss different types of game design, the stakeholder groups involved, and outcomes that may be achieved by this method. Our results display how game elements, rationales and rules can be adapted in accordance with the conveners’ intentions, and outline the roles that scientists, land users, institutional actors, and technicians assume in the RPG. We argue that RPGs have the potential to serve scientific knowledge production while also facilitating collective decision-making, conflict mediation, and joint learning. A case study from Madagascar illustrates that land users can easily relate RPGs to their real lives. The participants in this case study reflected on their livelihood systems, collectively analysed problems, and discussed possible solutions. Finally, we critically discuss the validity and legitimacy of the research results, and measures to avoid bias and manipulation.
AB - Participatory games are valued by many researchers as innovative tools to facilitate science-practice communication in transdisciplinary research processes. This article explores the diverse potentials of role-playing games (RPGs) in natural resource research and management. Based on a literature review, we discuss different types of game design, the stakeholder groups involved, and outcomes that may be achieved by this method. Our results display how game elements, rationales and rules can be adapted in accordance with the conveners’ intentions, and outline the roles that scientists, land users, institutional actors, and technicians assume in the RPG. We argue that RPGs have the potential to serve scientific knowledge production while also facilitating collective decision-making, conflict mediation, and joint learning. A case study from Madagascar illustrates that land users can easily relate RPGs to their real lives. The participants in this case study reflected on their livelihood systems, collectively analysed problems, and discussed possible solutions. Finally, we critically discuss the validity and legitimacy of the research results, and measures to avoid bias and manipulation.
KW - game design
KW - Madagascar
KW - natural resource management
KW - participatory methods
KW - role-playing games
KW - stakeholders
KW - Environmental planning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044428866&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/geoj.12248
DO - 10.1111/geoj.12248
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 184
SP - 298
EP - 309
JO - Geographical Journal
JF - Geographical Journal
SN - 0016-7398
IS - 3
ER -