May’s Journey is a video game that teaches beginners how to program. Researchers are inviting you to play this game to help us better understand the phases learners go through when first introduced to programming. We ask that you play at least one hour, but you can play as much as you want. Your in-game behavior will be captured using game logs. The logs will include the time spent at each level of the game and all the actions performed you do while playing (clicks, interactions, answers to questions, and responses to coding tasks), which will allow us to deduce performance and learning and improve the game.
There are no direct benefits to being in this research study. However, you will have the chance to play an interesting game and learn more about programming.
Your part in this study will be confidential. Only the researchers involved with this study will see the information collected through this study. No personal data is collected. No reports or publications will use information that can identify you in any way l as being of this project. The data you provide for this study will be identified only by a ID number and will not be traceable back to you personally. Only game log data will be collected. The data will be stored on a password protected device and will under no circumstance be accessible to anyone other than the researchers on this project. In rare instances, authorized people may request to access the data collected for this study. This is done only to be sure that the research is done properly. We would only permit people who are authorized by organizations such as the Northeastern University Institutional Review Board to see this information.
No special arrangements will be made for compensation or for payment for treatment solely because of your participation in this research.
Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. You do not have to participate if you do not want to and you can refuse to answer any question. Even if you begin the study, you may stop at any time. If you do not participate or if you decide to quit, you will not lose any rights, benefits, or services that you would otherwise have [as a student, employee, etc].
If you have any questions about this study, please feel free to contact Chaima Jemmali at jemmali.c@husky.neu.edu. You can also contact Magy Seif El-Nasr, the Principal Investigator, at m.seifel-nasr@northeastern.edu
If you have any questions about your rights in this research, you may contact Nan C. Regina, Director, Human Subject Research Protection, Mail Stop: 560-177, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115. Tel: 617.373.4588, Email: n.regina@neu.edu. You may call anonymously if you wish.
No cost is anticipated for your participation in this study.
You must be at least 18 years old to participate, be physically capable of playing the video game and a competent English speaker. If you are younger than 18 years old, you can still play but you must ask your parents first. The game does not contain any inappropriate, offensive or violent content.