Grants

Research on the physical and psychological factors behind effective games for use in inner city school physical education programs

Will integrating motion-based video games into physical education classes provide inner city children with a better, more enjoyable workout? That's what a team of researchers from George Washington University studied as they compared the physical, psychological, and behavioral effects of three activities: (1) playingÿWinds of Orbis, a video game that combines upper and lower body movements in order to control an on-screen character in the game; (2) playing Dance, Dance, Revolution, a popular video game that provides a lower body workout as players dance on a pad that detects their steps; and (3) engaging in traditional physical education activities in school PE class. The study examined various outcomes, such as the students' enjoyment of the activities, attitudes toward physical education class, and caloric expenditure during physical education. The goal of the study was to investigate the emerging role that interactive video gaming is playing in school physical education programs.

This project was funded as part of Health Games Research, a national program of the Pioneer Portfolio dedicated to funding and supporting research to advance the effectiveness of interactive games for health.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $114,000.00

Awarded on: 8/21/2009

Time frame: 9/1/2009 - 8/31/2011

Grant Number: 66726

Grantee

George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services

Ross Hall 719
2300 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, DC, 20052-0011

202-994-2160
Website

Karen McDonnell
Project Director

202-994-6823
Email

Todd Miller
Project Director

202-994-2572
Email

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