Data underlying the publication: The validity of simplifying gaming simulations

Simplifications of the real world affect the validity and reliability of gaming simulations. This challenges the application of gaming simulations as an instrument for experiential learning, reflective practices and data collection. This study investigates the effects of simplification on extracting tacit knowledge from human behaviour by answering the research question: Can tacit knowledge in a simplified design of a gaming simulation be transferred without compromising the validity and reliability corresponding to the real-world complexity? By applying a participatory design a gaming simulation is tested as an instrument to extract tacit knowledge. To test and evaluate the validity of this application, simulation sessions have been performed with experts from the field. In simplifying reality, participants' participation emphasized that the most accurate representation of reality is a prerequisite for capturing tacit knowledge. This in turn contributes again to the validity of the simulation design. The results show that simplification of the real world didn't affect participants' perspective on the use of the gaming simulation as an experiential tool to enable learning processes or create awareness. And that a simplified simulation design, is still valid in addressing the real-world complexity, with minimization of the level of abstraction and maximization of the truthfulness.

现实世界的简化会影响游戏模拟（gaming simulations）的效度与信度，这对游戏模拟作为体验式学习、反思性实践与数据收集工具的应用构成了挑战。本研究通过回应下述研究问题，探讨简化操作对从人类行为中提取隐性知识（tacit knowledge）的影响：在游戏模拟的简化设计中，隐性知识能否在不损害契合现实世界复杂性的效度与信度的前提下完成迁移？本研究采用参与式设计方法，将一款游戏模拟作为隐性知识提取工具开展测试。为评估并验证该应用的效度，研究团队邀请该领域专家开展了多轮模拟实验。在简化现实的过程中，参与实验的专家提出，对现实的最精准复现是获取隐性知识的前提，而这一点反过来又可提升模拟设计的效度。研究结果显示，对现实世界的简化并未影响参与者对游戏模拟的认知定位：即该工具可作为体验式载体支撑学习进程或提升认知水平。同时，通过最小化抽象层级、最大化真实性，简化后的模拟设计仍能有效应对现实世界的复杂性。