Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

7-29-1970

Abstract

Three factors have been proposed in the literature as determinants of game playing behavior. These are: a structural factor, a factor arising out of the interaction between the players, and an individual differences factor. A recent study was able to separate the structural factor from the combined effects of the interaction factor and the individual differences factor. This was done by using a within-subjects design and between-game correlations to uncover behavioral consistencies across different games. Between-game consistencies were found, thus indicating that the structural factor is not the sole determinant of game playing behavior. However, because the interaction factor and individual differences factor were confounded, the source of these consistencies was unclear. The present study was designed to separate each of these factors. This was accomplished through the use of a within-subjects design and between-game correlations of five pairwise dependent variables and eight independently determined variables, with the added variation of mixing the pairs after each game for one-half of the subjects. It was hypothesized that this mixing of partners would eliminate the possibility of an interaction effect being maintained across games, and therefore, if behavioral consistencies remained in the mixed partner group, these could be attributed to the action of some persistent individual characteristics of the subjects. This provides a scale-free estimate of the effect of individual differences on game playing behavior, over and above the situation specific type that operates within a specific interaction. The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS) was also administered to all subjects in an attempt to identify any individual characteristics which might be contributing to between-game consistencies in behavior. In addition to the mixed partner manipulation, a reward factor was included in this study in an attempt to direct the subjects toward specific goals. A ranked method of reward was used with one-half of the subjects as it was felt that this would direct them toward the goal of maximization of individual gain. A regular game research technique of reward was used for the other half because it should be essentially non-motivating in terms of goal directiveness. The results of this experiment demonstrated that mixing of pairs docs signficantly decrease the between-games transfer of interaction when compared to a group in which the pairs remained the same throughout the experiment. When this between-games transfer of interaction was eliminated, so were the between-game consistencies in behavior. This leads to the conclusion that individual characteristics of the subjects have little effect on game playing behavior, except when operating within the context of the interaction with the other player. This is further supported by a lack of significant relationships between individually determined measures of game playing behavior and the EPPS. The data also show that the assumptions concerning the goal directiveness of the reward factors were correct. Therefore it appears that the ranked method of reward increases concern for individual gain while the regular method increases concern for joint mutual gain. It was also found that the mixing of partners led to enhanced game playing ability, probably through improved learning of the logical structure of the game. When this effect is combined with the effect of the regular reward method, subjects show evidence of having learned to negotiate through their actions so as to attain the greatest mutually satisfying outcome in every game.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Richard Jerome Harris

Second Committee Member

Karl Peter Koenig

Third Committee Member

Peder Jack Johnson

Fourth Committee Member

Henry Carleton Ellis

Fifth Committee Member

David Theodore Benedetti

Sponsors

The National Science Foundation dissertation grant ACDA-0331

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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