Experimental Research: Simulations and Serious Games for Sustainability

Abstract

A review of experimental studies accounts for the effectiveness of simulation-based learning in generating behavior and other variables towards sustainability. A set of 35 studies from 1997–2019 was derived from the bibliometric database on simulations and serious games (SSG) featuring education for sustainable development (ESD). Key findings highlighted the effects of SSG on sustainable variables. The SSG featured in experiments focused on either multiple or single dimensions of sustainability and appeared in academic, household and workplace settings. The experiments are overweighed with quasi-experimental designs, indicating the challenges to achieve random assignments. The majority of the simulation gaming interventions showed significant effects on knowledge, attitude and behavior towards sustainability. Interpreting the effects requires clear evidence, particularly when effect size indicators were likely to be ignored or skipped. Future researchers must use appropriate analytical tools and justify key results to achieve statistically significant effects of SSG on outcome variables.