The dynamics of affective transitions in simulation problem-solving environments

Abstract

We analyze the antecedents of affective states in a simulation problem-solving environment, The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions, through quantitative field observations of high school students in the Philippines using that system. We investigate the transitions between affective states over time, finding that several affective states, including flow, boredom, and frustration, but not surprise, tend to persist over for relatively long periods of time. We also investigate how students' usage choices influence their later affect, finding that gaming the system leads to reduced confusion but increased boredom. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.