Study Information
Study Investigators:
Dr. Adriana Ríos: aros@ualberta.ca
Assistant Professor. Department of Occupational Therapy. Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Dr. Eleni Stroulia: stroulia@ualberta.ca
Professor. Department of Computing Science. Faculty of Science. University of Alberta.
Study ID:
Pro00101115
Study Title:
Serious Games for Engagement and Positive Emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ruby De Jesus. MSc. Student. Computing Science.
Melika Torabgar. MSc. Student. Rehabilitation Medicine.
Background and purpose of the study:
Playing computer games may enhance social engagement and promote positive emotions in older adults.
We have developed a suite of games, called VibrantMinds, specifically for older adults.
We want to assess if these games help older adults feel they are involved in enjoyable meaningful activities.
We are looking for older adults who have their own device (Android tablet) and internet connection to participate in a study.
You are invited to participate, following the procedure below:
- We will send you the link for accessing the VibrantMinds website.
- You will select a username and password. Please do not use your real name but a nickname. You need to remember your username and password because they are required every time you want to play the games.
- Before starting to play the games, you will fill out four online questionnaires; this will take maximum 30 minutes
- Then you can start playing the VibrantMinds games; note that we will provide links for instructional videos about how to play the games.
- Every week, you will receive a message to fill out a short questionnaire (of four questions) to "tell us about your experience".
- After four and twelve weeks, you will fill out three questionnaires; this will take maximum 25 minutes.
- There is no risk associated with these questionnaires, as they do not include any sensitive questions
- Your participation will be anonymous; your identity cannot be linked to your responses.
- Your responses will also be kept confidential. The data will be stored on a UAlberta server and only the researchers mentioned in this document will have access to it through their UAlberta credentials. The study data may be reviewed by the REB. The data will be stored for a minimum of 5 years post study completion. Aggregate statistical analyses of this data will be reported in scholarly publications and presentations.
- You can play the games as frequently as you want.
- You are free to withdraw from the research study by contacting the research investigators at any time before the data of your responses is analyzed. Withdrawing has no consequences for you. The deadline for withdrawing will be two weeks after you fill out the last set of questionnaires.