The Utility of Games for Society, Business, and Politics

Abstract

Summary This chapter discusses one building block for a science of serious games (SG) that has marked consequences for the development, use, dissemination, and evaluation of games for learning. The authors call this as building block framing or frame-reflective discourse analysis. The chapter first illustrates why definitions and taxonomies do not clarify much in the confusing discourse about games, learning, and education. It then discusses what frames are and how frame-reflective discourse analysis works with respect to understanding games. The chapter also describes a few frames, and illustrates them with examples. Based upon the principles of frame analysis the authors intend to construct a number of frames that color the discourse on the utility of games in society, business, and politics, and consider their consequences for research and policy. Finally, the chapter shows how these frames influence policy and research agendas, and wrap up with a few practical implications of framing.