Understanding Development of Social Games Through Diary Studies

In this research-to-practice full paper, we describe our approach to using diary studies and social games to help Computer Science students develop their understanding of how application design influences user engagement and behavior over time. Social games are an engaging target for junior and senior-level courses like Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Mobile Software Design. While guidelines for designing social games can be conveyed through lectures and course materials, research shows the value of student-centered, hands-on learning experiences in fostering deep understanding. Inspired by Constructivism, which emphasizes that people construct understanding and knowledge through lived experiences and reflection, we incorporated a diary study assignment into an undergraduate HCI course. Although demoing a technology in class, or even having students use it in a controlled short-term activity, can convey lessons about usability, feature intent, and slips and errors, long-term use provides a better understanding of how technologies remain engaging and enjoyable (or how this can fade over time) and how social connections can evolve through repeated engagements. Diary studies, an established approach to field research, offer researchers a reflective view of how technology use may evolve over time. When employed as a pedagogical tool, diary studies create opportunities for students to capture and critically analyze their experiences through the lenses of a user, researcher, and designer. The social games served as a vehicle for active engagement, prompting students to apply critical thinking and reflection skills within a controlled setting. Analysis of students' diaries and post-study focus group discussions revealed common themes that can be incorporated into learning activities to help students understand how to develop apps that encourage certain behaviors among users. We outline how these lessons would be difficult to convey with more short-term use and identify techniques useful for development of social games. This diary study assignment approach increased students' appreciation of diary studies as a research method for collecting qualitative data about user behaviors and experiences over time and enhanced their understanding of the practical challenges of using diary studies for such a purpose. Further, we observed that the experience also deepened students' understanding of designing for user retention and social connection, and the importance of considering real-life application challenges in game design, such as concerns associated with safe usage and privacy.