Game Inhabiting Level Effects on Children 1

Abstract

This study was a preliminary exploration of the effects of inhabiting level on children's responses to their participation in a series of physical games. Inhabiting level, the ratio of tasks within a setting to the number of participants available to perform those tasks, influences the behavior and psychological experiences of participants. Children (N=35) played three games designed to reflect different inhabiting levels: overinhabiting (1 task for 3 players requiring turntaking), adequate inhabiting (1 ongoing task for each player), and underinhabiting (2 ongoing tasks for each player). During play, children's involvement and affective expression were rated on separate 5-point scales. Children completed a questionnaire regarding their relative satisfaction with the games after play. Analysis indicated that children experienced significantly greater satisfaction and displayed significantly higher involvement and positive affect in the underinhabited game condition than in the overinhabited game condition.