Can Dora the Explorer create more acceptance of Latinos?

Fri May 1 2009

Does playing video games affect the way young children perceive members of the Latino community? That is the question being studied by Dr. Karen Dill, professor of psychology at Lenoir-Rhyne University, and two international colleagues.

The scholars conducted their research at Jenkins Elementary School in Hickory and at Hickory High School Child Development Center. After obtaining permission from their parents, children ages 4-7 were asked to play two different video games. One was based on Dora the Explorer, a popular Latina children’s TV character. The second video game was called Jewels and did not include any characters.

Immediately after playing each game, the children were asked to respond to questions that indirectly measured their attitude toward Latino children. They were shown several pictures of children of different ethnic backgrounds. The students were asked to select the three children that they would choose as friends, would invite to a birthday party, or would pick for their soccer team. They also completed a complex computer program that analyzes attitudes.

The hope is that the research will reveal that when children see positive examples of Latinos, like Dora the Explorer, in the media, they will transfer those positive feelings onto other Latinos. Previous research has indicated that the immediate reaction to playing a video game can affect long-term attitudes as well.

Dr. Carlo Fabricatore, a university professor and software consultant from Rome, Italy; and Ximena Lopez, who is completing her Ph.D. in psychology in Rome; were in Hickory during April to collaborate on the international research project. Several Lenoir-Rhyne psychology majors also assisted.

Lopez, who is originally from Chile, said that part of her dissertation research concerns the educational potential of video games. After earning her doctorate, she hopes to work in the field of educational technology, specifically as it applies to persons with disabilities.

Both Fabricatore and Lopez said they enjoy collaborating with international colleagues on this subject, which affects people around the world.

“I consider gaming more than educational,” Fabricatore said. “Video games are a particularly rich form of emotions.” In Italy, he teaches university students studying to become video game designers. He also serves as a consultant to companies developing video games.

Fabricatore specializes in computer-human interaction. “We are trying to understand a very complex thing,” he said. “This kind of work is very important.”

He said video game developers are all trying to develop a top-selling game. However, he said, “The majority of market successes come by chance. They cannot be repeated. This is because of lack of knowledge.”

After working in the field since 1996, he believes most people play video games because they are challenging and allow the gamer to experience a feeling of mastery. Contrary to popular opinion, he said he believes realistic graphics have little to do with game popularity.

By studying the psychological effects of game playing, all three researchers hope to understand more fully the positive, as well as negative, effects of video games.

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