Got feedback from expert for my most recent intervention

I reached out the expert Yifei Shen again, I sent my project to her, and she finally give me some professional advise and feedback.

Feedback:

Playing games is a good family therapy. When family members engage in an arts or game therapeutic activity, they often express thoughts and feelings that they otherwise may not feel comfortable expressing through traditional family talk therapy. Playing game can unlock a deeper level of communication. Games and arts therapies differ from traditional “talk therapy” in that they engage emotions in a direct and physical way.

but there are some problems you still to solve:

1.Parents may have difficulty understanding the rationale and effectiveness of using game and art techniques in game sessions. They may view games, drawings merely as sources of entertainment. Parents may also feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or silly participating in playful family therapy. It is helpful to meet with parents prior to the first family session to explain the value of using games and art activities in family therapy and to help them embrace this approach. 

2.This game provides a window for you to observe process and content within family interactions. Process information relates to how the family interacts, the verbal and nonverbal expressions, and stylistic idiosyncrasies.

In addition to observing the process and content that evolves during this activity, you should also observe nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, tones of voice, energy level, amount of enjoyment, and degree of engagement

3.The first half of the game is to enable participants to express their problems and conflicts and question discussion. you done it.

But he second half of the game you need to focuses on change for improving family life. You must carefully guide the family in a discussion about how changes could be made and the advantages of making these changes. 

second test(online) and reflection

According to the last intervention,I modified the questions on the cards in the game and increased the number of cards (the number of questions). I used the modified version to test another pair of participants. Because they think video conferencing inconvenient and awkward, I use remote voice to guide them to play the game, and asked them to take a photo during the game. Still the same as the previous process, first sign the permission for photography, then complete the questionnaire(1-2min), start the game(30min), interview(2-3min).

what typical family(family communication pattern)? The left one: pluralistic; The middle one:consensual; The right one: laissez faire.

Feedback

The left family(pluralistic): Because we have a better relationship each other, and our family’s ideas are more open, I think this game including the problems in it is not a challenge for us. But it’s really good for me as an after-dinner entertainment activity, it’s good for us to enhance our relationship.

The middle family(consensual):There was a little awkwardness at the beginning of the game. We were not willing to express our thoughts, especially during the interactive session. After answering the question, we don’t extend the question too much, but the situation is alleviated after 15 minutes. Through this game, we also know each other’s thoughts and know where everyone’s bottom line is, which will help us avoid the next conflict.

The right family(laissez faire):The problem cards in the game are set up very well, most of which are trivial matters of life, but it is precisely because of these trivial matters of life that we can reflect our values, family views, etc. Most of the problems in the game we have encountered before and similar contradictions have occurred. In this game, we know each other’s thoughts better, and at the same time help us review our previous contradictions and find the reason of the contradictions. Let our relationship with each other go further. And every question cards has an explanation. When we hear the explanation, we understand why the other party chooses to do this instead of doing it like me.

Reflection:

I found that the analysis of the options on the question card is very important and an indispensable part, because when they choose different answers, they don’t agree with each other on the question, just like“why you chose A and didn’t choose B with me?” When they argue for a while and then look at the analysis of different options, they will better understand why the other party made this choice. During their argument, they can also discover the differences and commonalities between each other.
I think the shortcoming is that I should set up a card in this game session. Having the right to refuse to answer questions(three time). When encountering questions that I don’t want to answer, I can use this card so that they will not produce a lot of pressure, and enjoy the game process more.
So far, I have almost completed my intervention, although I have not yet seen whether the communication mode and intimacy between the participants will change, whether this intervention can really change them, or have an impact on them, But I think this process is long-term, and based on their feedback, I think there are potential changes. I believe that through this intervention, there will be more potential changes in the communication mode and intimacy between them.

Latest intervention(process+feedback+reflection)

In the last week, I went to Newcastle to test one of my stakeholder, and play the game with them. Before the intervention, I filmed with them, and asked them to sign a consent form allowing the filming. and then they completed a simple questionnaire in 2 minutes. The game lasts for about 30 minutes, and after the game is over, I interviewed them for 3 minutes.(The video will undergo sound processing and mosaic at the request of the participants)

what typical family(family communication pattern)? :pluralistic

Feedback:

PARTICIPANT A: this game really helps us to communicate. In this game, I found that his thoughts are like this, which made me understand him better, and the questions in the game are also well designed. They are all scenes encountered in daily life. The analysis of the answers is also very detailed, although there are some analysis that I don’t agree with.

PARTICIPANT B: In this game, Ifeel that there is not much difference between me and her. Even if there are differences, most of them can accept each other’s ideas after explaining. In a relationship, few people come in to speak fair, especially when everyone is at peace. This game really helps both parties communicate and can easily open up the depth of each other’s chat. I hop that the number of cards in the game can be increased, and the number of interactive cards can be more, so that I can play a few more times.

Reflection:

Through this intervention, and my observation of participants’ reactions and their feedback, I feel that my intervention has played a positive role in communication. I am very happy that my intervention is considered successful, but there are still area for improvement, such as the number of question cards and interactive cards.

At the end of the game, I found that the participants didn’t want to end the game. They wanted more question cards to ask each other, and they wanted to know more about each other’s thoughts. Every time asked a question card, they had a discussion after answering, sometime they would disagree with each other’ ideas, but after explaining the answer, they all understood the other person’ ideas, so which mean the analysis of question is an indispensable part of this game, it is equivalent to an authoritative middleman to resolve the contradiction between them.

For my next step, I will modify some of the question cards in the game based on the feedback from this intervention, and then conduct an online test on another pair of participants.

planning to test by existed board game

I bought a board game, which can be used as my intervention to test my stakeholder, but the game is more suitable for couple, so I will change the content of question card and interactive card in the game, I feel like this is a easy way for me to complete my intervention quickly.

So far I have invited three stakeholders to participate in my intervention this week(NOVEMBER 11-12) One stakeholder is in the Newcastle and the other two are in China. For the China I will record the process of the game remotely. At the same time, I will go to Newcastle to test one of my stakeholder, and play the game with them.

Evaluative Report ——Draft

Introduction

My research question is how can we help family members of different generations to connect and understand each other?

The project is to help families to express and explore emotions and thoughts together safely. It helps families to understand each other’s experiences and views, appreciate each other’s needs, build a bridge in which everyone could have a chance to communicate with their family member and understand better and experience the process of a “shaping future relationship”.

My project is based on the high-context culture in Asia where people intend not to say what they want to say directly but express through non-verbal action. Many affections sign send from elder are quite cryptic that it’s hard to sense, which leads to the generation gap. The generation gap can result in misunderstanding and cause friction between different generation. Therefore, how to shorten the distance between family members has become a crucial issue.

A good family relationship is based on the communication between family member, and the process of communication is also a mode of interaction with the family(Bienvenu Sr, 1969). Many researchers actively exploring communication skills between family, but very few studies have studied the intimate relationship between children(18years old-35 years old) and elders, they mainly study the intimate relationship between children(under 15 years old) or Sexually Abused Children or Children with Anxiety and their parents(Appendix 10). My project is mainly to explore how to better communicate between teenagers(18years old-35 years old) and elders. The project is designed specifically to support family conversations around such real-world issues and sensitive topics, such as marriage.

Methodology

During the  project journey, I explore a mixture of methods. Most relevant are: experiment, observational, interview, focus group, questionnaire and reflexive practice – building interventions that imposed a improvement in intimacy relationship.The knowledge I acquired through these methods is applied to my iteration intervention.

For my initial idea(Appendix 1), I used mask as a technique, drawing their mood on the mask and wear their mask to communicate with other people, but can’t speak, only rely on body language. Result show that it resolves a little embarrassment, but it also increase the difficulty of communication. There are few information acquisition channels for online communication, a lot of interactive information is hidden, and it is difficult to feel the other’s person mood.

In order to better carry out my project, I explored family communication patterns(Appendix 3), relationship satisfaction, and conflicting styles. At the same time, I launched a questionnaire(Appendix 2). In this survey, I found a breakthrough point in the seating arrangement of the dining table in Chinese. So I discussed with my stakeholders via Zoom to discuss the breakthrough point(Appendix 4). Seating arrangement and family status and power hinder the communication between children and parents to some extent, and communication will be affected by power and family status. The relationship between parents and children is destined to be unequal. Parents are more likely to be in a controlling role, and children are more likely to be in a role of being taken care of and controlled. Even in families that emphasize the concept of equality, Nor can it eliminate this objective inequality. Power dynamic is a vital key in communication, which is the area I explore further.

In addition to this, I reached out experts: Junyi Cao: a creative and energetic service designer, she has been exploring the relationship between people; Yifei Shen: a psychologist expert. After talking with Junyi Cao(Appendix 8), I decided to use a game as my intervention(Appendix 5). I invited one of the stakeholders to play the sport game with her family. Results determined that playing games can indeed strengthen the relationship between family member and make you temporarily forget about power and status. However, when playing games, most of your energy is on the game, and you forget to communicate. After that, I reached out Yifei Shen(Appendix 6), she gave me some suggestions on game design and recommended a game for me to use as a reference. It prompted me to produce my iterative intervention— a board game. Games are common methods of psychological counseling, which use abstract questions to allow visitors to express their truest thoughts. 

In the game, there will be question cards(Appendix 9)(Cover the four aspects of money concept, family concept, values, and emotional bottom line)and interactive cards(The content of the interactive card will include some art therapy activities). You can give yourself and your family member an opportunity to express yourself through the choice of both parties, communicate emotions, and feel the similarities and differences by answering questions. Before playing the game, completing the questionnaire(Appendix 7), and then a 30-minute game will begin. After the game, there will be a 2-3 minute interview(Appendix 7). In order to consider that participants may lie and are unwilling to tell their true feelings, the game and interview process will all be recorded by video so that they can record the most real reaction when they communicate.

Reflection and Analysis

In the project journey, I kept challenging myself by trying many things I never did before, such as writing e-mail to experts, writing articles on the blog, writing report, at the same time, I learned how to develop interventions to check question, how to refine my question and intervention strategy to make it sharper and more purposeful.

My previous interventions and research focused on how to reduce the conflict between different generations and find the solution for the question, but I found that communication is a long-term process, this problem cannot be changes in the short-term. From my first intervention(Appendix 1), it resolved a little embarrassment, but it also increased the difficulty of communication, through this failed intervention, I have learned more about my stakeholder and family therapy. I have learned the concept of different communication pattern. I have learned that games are common methods of psychological counseling, such as sand table and tarot cards, which use abstract questions to allow visitors to express their truest thoughts. This knowledge allowed me to successfully find a breakthrough point—power dynamic, contact the experts, and got their valuable opinions, and the game facilitates communication and provides insight into individual and family dynamics. 

Conclusion

This year of research and experiences have shown and taught me that communication is a long-term process, this problem cannot be changed in the short-term. However, finding from my research had made me feel that I am making a small contribution on the development of family dynamic in China. 

In the early stage of the project, I think that a solution must be found for my project, otherwise it will be a failed project, but now my idea is that as long as someone participates in my project, their ideas have changed because of my project, which is a big step for success.

For the intervention, the board game and art-based interactive card provide families the opportunity to communicate, work as a team, learn more about each other, explore thoughts and feelings,  and have a different relational experience of each other. This has the potential to increase  emotional intimacy. This increased emotional intimacy is the support that offers family  members a secure base from which to grow.  Accordingly, how to help family members of different generations to connect and understand each other in the long term further research and more people to engage, consistent documentation, intervention, and testing.

(actually my iterative intervention has not received feedback yet, and it is still in progress. I am still designing the question card and interactive content in the game. I expect to finish my iterative intervention in the next two weeks, if I get the feedback from my intervention, I will write the feedback into the reflection and analysis part)

Bibliography

Bienvenu Sr, M. J. (1969). Measurement of parent-adolescent communication. Family Coordinator.

McLeod, J. M., & Chaffee, S. H. (1972). The construction of social realty. In J. T.Tedeschi (Ed.), The Social Influence Process.

Olson, D. H., & Barnes, H. (2004). Family communication. FACES IV Package.Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations, Inc

Ariel, S. (2005). Family play therapy. In C.E. Schaefer, J. McCormick, & A. Ohnogi (Eds.), International  handbook of play therapy: Advances in assessment, theory, research, and practice. New York: Jason  Aronson.

Gil, E., & Sobol, B. (2000). Engaging families in therapeutic play. In C.E. Bailey (Ed.), Children in  therapy: Using the family as a resource. New York: W.W. Norton. 

Keith, D.V., & Whitaker, C.A. (1981). Play therapy: A paradigm for work with families. Journal of Marital  and Family Therapy, 7, 243-254.

video:https://www.bilibili.com/video/av42164412?p=1 (question card in the game)

the reality show: https://www.ifsp.tv/play?id=zMx3wfq0RJM (study case)

Appendix 1:https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/24/experiment-wear-mask-to-communicate/

Appendix 2:https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/communication-pattern-survey/

Appendix 3: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/four-modes-of-family-communication/

Appendix 4: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/25/discuss-with-stakeholder-about-the-impact-of-seating-arrangements-on-communication/

Appendix 5: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/22/intervention-5-game/

Appendix 6: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/17/expert-response-and-outline-of-the-game/

Appendix 7: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/24/questionnaire-before-playing-the-game/

Appendix 8: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/26/complement-previous-conversations-with-experts%ef%bc%9ajunyi-cao/

Appendix 9: https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/10/23/reference%ef%bc%9athink-about-the-question-in-the-game/

Appendix 10: http://www.lianalowenstein.com/lWorkshops.html

Complement previous conversations with experts:JUNYI CAO

Junyi Cao is a creative and energetic service designer with the background in product design. She has been exploring the relationship between people and studying how to deal with the relationship between people delicately, so that this relationship is at a balance point.

DISCUSSION POINT

expression art therapy

  • The direction of expressive art therapy painting can break through the definition of age, language, cognitive range, especially for people who are not good at talking or are unwilling to communicate. 
  • The direction of expressive art therapy painting creates a relatively safe and free atmosphere for people, which will help people reduce their inner defenses.
  • Many people can relate the thoughts and emotions expressed to a piece of specific time in the past, present or future. Thinking in different time and space and sometimes even inner conflicting emotions can be expressed in the same painting.

a game with strategies and tactics(A balance board social game)

  • It challenges people’s cognition of the ideal interpersonal communication mode in a playful and ironic way, and helps people to reorient into those nuanced social dynamics.  
  • When we go back to the home not only the space, but the cultural and power structure.  For example, territorial behaviour like fighting for the best place, even conflict. 
  • Through strategy and tactics, you can get to know your family member from a new perspective. It can test the tacit understanding and trust between each other,

questionnaire before playing the game

A good family relationship is based on the communication between family member, and the process of communication is also a mode of interaction with the family. Many researchers actively exploring communication skills between family, including by family communication surveys prepared (Bienvenu Sr, 1969) Bienvenu, McLeod and Chaffee establishment of Family Communication Pattern Scale(McLeod & Chaffee, 1972). Olson its family function theory has developed two communication-related measurement tools and parent-child, “open communication Scale” and “problem-based communication Scale”(Barnes & Olson, 1985), etc.

After doing some research on above family communication scale(Barnes & Olson, 1985), I have decided to do questionnaire with participant before playing the board game. Because this can create a comparison, you can see how much the game really helps communication

This study uses the Family Communication Scale to evaluate the interaction of members during the game. The content of family communication assessment includes: listening skills; speaking skills; self-disclosure; continuity tracking; respect, plus overall satisfaction with family communication, a total of 15 questions. The calculation method is 1-5 points, 1 is very dissatisfied, 5 is very satisfied. According to the original questions of FCS, this research was revised into a questionnaire suitable for this research. Before playing the game, fill out the questionnaire and calculate the family communication score based on the evaluation criteria.

After completing the questionnaire, a 30-minute game will begin. After the game, there will be a 2-3 minute interview. In order to consider that participants may lie and are unwilling to tell their true feelings, the game and interview process will all be recorded by video so that they can record the most real reaction when they communicate.

QUESTIONNAIRE (before playing game)2-3min

I am satisfied with the current way of communicating with family members 1 2 3 4 5
I think my family members are good listeners 1 2 3 4 5
My family members and I can express each other’s emotions 1 2 3 4 5
My family members and I can discuss each other’s ideas 1 2 3 4 5
My family members and I will truly express our feelings 1 2 3 4 5

My closeness with family members 1 2 3 4 5
The quality of my communication with family members 1 2 3 4 5
Ability of family members to reduce conflict 1 2 3 4 5
Fairness in handling disagreements with family members 1 2 3 4 5
Degree of mutual care with family members 1 2 3 4 5

I hope that my family members will be willing to listen to my thoughts 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members will share with me when they have information 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members to treat me as a friend 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members will be willing to tell their thoughts 1 2 3 4 5
I hope my family members can refer to my suggestions 1 2 3 4 5

interview question(after playing game)2-3min

  • What did you learn?
  • What was the most surprising thing you learned about someone else?
  • Did you lie in the game just now?
  • How will you work towards making changes/improvements?

Bibliography

Bienvenu Sr, M. J. (1969). Measurement of parent-adolescent communication. Family Coordinator.

McLeod, J. M., & Chaffee, S. H. (1972). The construction of social realty. In J. T.Tedeschi (Ed.), The Social Influence Process.

Olson, D. H., & Barnes, H. (2004). Family communication. FACES IV Package.Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations, Inc

Reference:think about the question card in the game

REFERENCE ONE:

I did some research on how to set up the question in the game, I used a psychologist’s (GUANZHONG HUANG) research as a reference. His research content is: Emotional Communication-Change of Perception and Self-Awareness. The following questions are examples of his research and the meaning behind the questions. I will extend and adapt from his example to apply to my game

question:

  • 1. When people first see you, what impression do they generally have of you?
    Suppose you meet a group of new friends, and after getting along for a while, you hear them talking about you in the bathroom. What impression will they talk about?
  • 2. What is your biggest fear in childhood?
    It’s not a specific event, but how the thing you fear feels about you.
    ​For example, you said that my biggest fear in childhood was spiders. Then you have to describe why you are afraid of spiders and what spiders mean to you.
    For example, it means hidden fear, hidden harm.
  • 3. What do you think is the greatest strength of your character?
  • 4. What are the personality traits that you admire others have, but you don’t have?
  • 5. You always get into trouble because of what characteristics of your personality?
  • 6. What personality traits do you particularly hate in other people?

Problem reveals

  • Question 1
    • This problem, we call it a mask. You hide your fear by wearing this mask.
    • Some people use positiveness to hide their fear of being isolated
  • Question 2

problem represents our fear.

  • Question 3
    • Because masks cannot hide fear, we need weapons. This is the answer to the third question.
    • How do you deal with your fears now?
    • But weapons will probably be useless, because if they are useful, your fear will disappear.
  • Question 4
    • This is the real you, the real self.
    • In fictional parlance, it’s called your bright side.
    • It is what kind of person you are if one day your fear disappears.
    • The reason why you envy this advantage in others is because you want to be this kind of person.
  • Question 5
    • This is your weakness.
    • Why can’t I be my true self, why can’t my fear be defeated by my weapon, because I have weaknesses.
  • Question 6
    • This is your dark side.
    • When your mask cannot conceal fear, and weapons cannot overcome fear, when your weakness is tested, you will have two paths: overcome your fear and enter the light side; if you do not overcome it, you will enter the dark side.
    • Why do you hate this kind of person, because you might become this kind of person.

reference:

  • video:https://www.bilibili.com/video/av42164412?p=1
  • note of video: https://mubu.com/doc/28DAqD5lyM

REFERENCE TWO:

Another card game “The Second Half of My Life” (expert mentioned) will also serve as my reference. I will refer to the problems set in this game, adapt it and apply it to my intervention. This is by far the fastest and easiest way to go as soon as possible to complete my intervention.

expert response and next step

In the last week I reached the psychologist in the variety show (SEE YOU AGAIN) . I am very happy that I received her reply. She gave me some information on how to design a card psychology game. To help people who need intimacy get to know each other better, she also recommended me a card game for me as a reference.

1. Simulate differentiated relationships:
Setting a time boundary to simulate the difference between the initial and long-term relationships. For example, setting an 18-month boundary in the game will only affect progress related to the difference question during the game. Everyone will develop a “differentiated” perspective. Re-understand the emotional needs of different stages.
2. Set character chess pieces, set different images(maybe can overcome the power dynamic you mentioned before)
3. Setting question card: Card content includes: money concept, family concept, sexual concept, emotional bottom line.
4. Setting interactive card : intimate interactions to get closer (for example, imitating the other’s tone to say a word)

the picture is a card game that expert (shenyifei) recommended. This is a communication game. In the game, we need to complete this life map. For example, the starting point of the map is 20 years old and the ending point is 80 years old. The game lasts 40 minutes to one hour. Throw the dice in turns, the chess pieces can move according to the number of dice, and stop in the grid of how old they are to answer the corresponding questions or complete the interactive game. And everyone has a silence card, respects the adult’s right to remain silent, and has a chance to not answer questions in the game

next step:

think about the outline of the game

think about the question card and interactive card in the game ( The questions in the game will be based on the questions designed by some famous psychologists. For example, American psychologist Arthur Aron did a study. He designed a series of questions to test the degree of improvement in the relationship between each other. Eexperiments have shown that these problems make the participants feel that the intimate relationship between each other has increased.)

10.11 Tutorial feedback

feedback:

try to reach more expert, getting more support to my project

my weakness is communication :think about who I know relate to my project, expand my network, communicate with audience

painting portrait/ art-making hire a artist ? It anyone access to hire a artist? have drawing skills? think about these factor

next step:

try to reach more expert to set up some question can be used in the game, and how to solve the power dynamic issues

think about what activity can be used in the game as the interactive part, like painting.

at the same time, design the outline of the game

art therapy painting

How to resolve power dynamics in family relationships?

The first step is to recognize that the power dynamic . Recognize how you look in the eyes of others. See if parents or children can see themselves correctly and have a clear understanding of themselves

art therapy painting

  • The direction of art therapy painting can break through the definition of age, language, cognitive range, especially for people who are not good at talking or are unwilling to communicate. 
  • The direction of art therapy painting creates a relatively safe and free atmosphere for people, which will help people reduce their inner defenses.
  • Many people can relate the thoughts and emotions expressed to a piece of specific time in the past, present or future. Thinking in different time and space and sometimes even inner conflicting emotions can be expressed in the same painting.

study case

Inviting a painter to draw portrait, according to the description given to yourself by yourself and the description given to yourself by the other person, see if you can see yourself correctly.

the left one portrait is her friend described , the right one is described by herself

from the portrait we can see that there is a difference between one’s own perception of oneself and others’ perception of oneself. We can know how we look in the eyes of others, whether it is serious or easy-going, and we can further have a clear understanding of ourselves.

I feel like painting portrait can be used as an interactive part in my further game intervention.

9.4 tutorial feedback

some point discuss with Zuleika

try to test stakeholder with online game

power dynamic

family therapy

how to design the game to persuade parents to relinquish power and let them admit problem

reach out some expert to help me

some link Zuleika gave:


goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/power


penguin.co.uk/books/230/23075/power/9780241435083.html


mitpress.mit.edu/books/families-play

relative research and reflection

in the last few weeks. I just watched the Chinese latest reality show, called “see you again”, its about 3 pairs of divorced couples that come to an 18 day vacation to see if they can save their marriage. There are also 4 hosts and 2 psychologists that form the observation team.

I feel like I learnt a lot from this TV show so far, because these 3 couple decided to divorce because of communication problem. and I will use the TV show as a study case. I think this reality show is a successful intervention, although I still don’t know the final outcome, whether the three couple are really divorced. but when I read the comments, I found that this show has already affected some people.

reflection:

In the TV show, A big factor that disrupts communication is when you want to use your correct value to get another person to follow your correct value. because when you do it , you will not see that person, you just only see the right thing. this is the point to affect communication.

like in my project, parents want to give the best things to their children, so they unconsciously let their children follow their value. they do not have a clear understanding of themselves, and also don’t realize the difference between themselves and their children

based on my previous intervention feedback, the family status and power also is a factor, and playing game can help them forget about the status and power.

next step

I will design a mental game as my intervention, everyone in the game can have an opportunity to express themselves, communicate their emotion, interact and feel the similarities and differences between themselves and others through the game. The result of the game is not important, the important things is the process, they can have a clear understanding of themselves, and at the same time also understand and connect each other.

The purpose of the game

  • have a clear understanding of oneself, perceive the similarities and differences between themselves and others
  • increase interaction
  • overcome the barriers of power and family status

UNIT 2

  1. intervention 6: Dinning table  https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/22/intervention-6-dining-table-on-communication/
  2. intervention 5:  Playing game with family members https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/08/22/intervention-5-game/
  3. intervention 4: Meeting with stakeholder https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/25/discuss-with-stakeholder-about-the-impact-of-seating-arrangements-on-communication/
  4. intervention 3: Communication pattern survey https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/23/communication-pattern-survey/
  5. intervention 2: Digital story https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/06/03/first-intervention/
  6. intervention 1: Wear mask to communicate https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/05/24/experiment-wear-mask-to-communicate/
  7. stakeholder https://koyoung.myblog.arts.ac.uk/2021/07/25/stakeholders-user-expert/

intervention 6 (dining table on communication)

this intervention is based on the intervention 5 ( seating arrangement on communication). in this intervention, I will first throw a question or point of view to the other person, let him think or study carefully, don’t worry about asking the answer, let him digest it in his mind first, and challenge his original concept. ( inspired by the book: The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe) . I used critical design as a method to designe a dining table that can reflect the status of the family, and invite people to write down five key word to describe how they feel after seeing the dining table.

1. Please use 3 keywords to describe how you feel after seeing this dining table.

A: family, friend, communication

B: party, interact, space

C: warm, sweet, family time

2. Please use 3 keywords to describe how you feel after seeing this dining table.

A: distance, contradiction, estrangement

B: misunderstanding, inconvenience, serious

C: lonely, distant, bad relationship

I also placed it downstairs in my house and invite people to write down the keyword, but only received very few responses.

reference:

What is Critical Design?
Critical Design uses speculative design proposals to challenge narrow assumptions, preconceptions about the role products play in everyday life. Its opposite is affirmative design: design that reinforces the status quo.

What is it for?
To make us think. But also raising awareness, exposing assumptions, provoking action, sparking debate.

Affirmative design is problem solving, with design framed as a process that provides answers in the service of industry for how the world is.

Critical design, on the other side of the page, is characterized as problem finding, with design framed as a medium that asks questions in the service of society for how the world could be.

intervention 5 (game)

according to the last tutorial feedback, I am a little aware the older you are the wiser you are, the more respected to be given and there is always this barrier attached to it when it comes to communication.

so what can help me to tackle this issue? could be a game? in the game, give them the role, the game is to play that role of being someone else, and see how they act and how they interact and how they feel. 

so I invited one of the stakeholder to play the game with her family, and then interview her feelings, Does the game really help communication? Can it overcome the barriers of power?

interview:

stakeholder feeling: Playing games can indeed strengthen the relationship between family member and make you temporarily forget about power and status. However, one thing is not good. When playing games, most of your energy is on the game, and you forget to communicate.