Combating the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Negotiation Simulation: Using Serious Games to Simulate Policy Deliberation

Rebekah Riddle; Todd Schenk; Lucas Michael Goodman

Download Paper | Permalink

Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: Engineering and Public Policy Division (EPP) Technical Session 1
Tagged Division: Engineering and Public Policy Division (EPP)
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/48472

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

Rebekah Riddle Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

visit author page

REBEKAH RIDDLE is a doctoral student in the Planning, Governance, and Globalization program and is a member of the SPI (Science-Policy Interface Lab) at Virginia Tech. She works closely with scientists and engineers to bridge the gap between science and policy using serious games. She holds an M.Eng. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech.

visit author page

author page

Todd Schenk Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

author page

Lucas Michael Goodman Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Download Paper | Permalink

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant threat to not only human health but also animal and environmental health, putting this issue squarely into the One-Health arena. Furthermore, the drivers of and thus potential solutions to antimicrobial resistance are found in many sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater treatment. Those who work on this issue are subsequently often from very different fields, such as public policy, environmental engineering, public health, and various scientific disciplines. Policy development in any field requires the engagement of stakeholders in order to create informed, broadly supported, and effective policies. This is particularly true in the context of complex issues like antimicrobial resistance; stakeholder representatives from relevant government agencies and interest groups must come together to make science-informed decisions.

This mixed-methods study examines how serious games can be used to teach both stakeholders and researchers about the importance of antimicrobial resistance, how stakeholders and their values influence the policy process, and how science is more or less effectively used in policy negotiations. Using social learning theory, we developed a negotiation-style serious game focused on antimicrobial resistance featuring eight different stakeholders with different values, interests, and pieces of information. Participants in a workshop were given roles and placed in three identical simulation groups where they negotiated around various options to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The main goal for the players was to work together to develop a list of policy recommendations to be implemented into the United States National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance based on the information they were provided and their respective (assigned) stakeholder values and interests.

We surveyed the players of the game to understand the effectiveness of the exercise against six different learning objectives. The pre/post survey design involved surveys before and after the game was played and consisted of both Likert-scale questions and several open-ended questions. The game was immediately followed by a semi-structured focus group. We generated descriptive statistics and a Wilcoxon matched pairs test comparing pre- and post-exercise surveys, and thematic analysis of the qualitative data. The participants were members of an NSF-funded research traineeship on antimicrobial resistance, ranging from first-year graduate students to tenured faculty whose research is focused on antimicrobial resistance at a large Southeastern Research-focused (R1) institution. The majority of these participants came from departments within the College of Engineering, but others came from other colleges and schools within the institution.

Citation
Format

Riddle, R., & Schenk, T., & Goodman, L. M. (2024, June), Combating the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Negotiation Simulation: Using Serious Games to Simulate Policy Deliberation Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/48472

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Antimicrobial resistance is a significant threat to not only human health but also animal and environmental health, putting this issue squarely into the One-Health arena. Furthermore, the drivers of and thus potential solutions to antimicrobial resistance are found in many sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater treatment. Those who work on this issue are subsequently often from very different fields, such as public policy, environmental engineering, public health, and various scientific disciplines. Policy development in any field requires the engagement of stakeholders in order to create informed, broadly supported, and effective policies. This is particularly true in the context of complex issues like antimicrobial resistance; stakeholder representatives from relevant government agencies and interest groups must come together to make science-informed decisions. 

This mixed-methods study examines how serious games can be used to teach both stakeholders and researchers about the importance of antimicrobial resistance, how stakeholders and their values influence the policy process, and how science is more or less effectively used in policy negotiations. Using social learning theory, we developed a negotiation-style serious game focused on antimicrobial resistance featuring eight different stakeholders with different values, interests, and pieces of information. Participants in a workshop were given roles and placed in three identical simulation groups where they negotiated around various options to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The main goal for the players was to work together to develop a list of policy recommendations to be implemented into the United States National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance based on the information they were provided and their respective (assigned) stakeholder values and interests.

We surveyed the players of the game to understand the effectiveness of the exercise against six different learning objectives. The pre/post survey design involved surveys before and after the game was played and consisted of both Likert-scale questions and several open-ended questions. The game was immediately followed by a semi-structured focus group.  We generated descriptive statistics and a Wilcoxon matched pairs test comparing pre- and post-exercise surveys, and thematic analysis of the qualitative data. The participants were members of an NSF-funded research traineeship on antimicrobial resistance, ranging from first-year graduate students to tenured faculty whose research is focused on antimicrobial resistance at a large Southeastern Research-focused (R1) institution. The majority of these participants came from departments within the College of Engineering, but others came from other colleges and schools within the institution. 

AU  - Rebekah Riddle
AU  - Todd Schenk
AU  - Lucas Michael Goodman
CY  - Portland, Oregon
DA  - 2024/06/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Combating the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance Negotiation Simulation: Using Serious Games to Simulate Policy Deliberation
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/48472
ER  -