The Convergence of Player Experience Questionnaires

Player experience is an important field of digital games research to understand how games influence players. A common way to directly measure players’ reported experiences is through questionnaires. However, the large number of questionnaires currently in use introduces several challenges both in terms of selecting suitable measures and comparing results across studies. In this paper, we review some of the most widely known and used questionnaires and focus on the immersive experience questionnaire (IEQ), the game engagement questionnaire (GEQ), and the player experience of need satisfaction (PENS), with the aim to position each of them in relation to each other. This was done through an online survey, in which we gathered 270 responses from players about their most recent experience of a digital game. Our findings show considerable convergence between these three questionnaires and that there is room to refine them into a more widely applicable measure of general game engagement

The effect of time manipulation on immersion in digital games

Many empirical studies look into identifying factors that influence the quality of experience in video games. In this paper, we present research into the effect of playing time and players’ perception of the time on their immersion in the game. We invited 20 participants to play a puzzle game Bejeweled 2 for 7 min. They played the game in two conditions, namely, correct time (timer was programmed to be exactly 7 min) and wrong time (the countdown was set to be for 6 min, but was presented as a 7 min timer to the player). Players’ immersion scores were measured after the game using the IEQ. The results show no significant difference in immersion scores between the two conditions and participants’ comments also revealed that they perceived no difference in playing time between the conditions. This suggests that there is a dissociation between gaming time and subjective experience of gaming. Further research is required to investigate the relationship between playing time and positive gaming experiences

Compact objects in conformal nonlinear electrodynamics

In this paper we consider a special case of vacuum non-linear electrodynamics with a stress-energy tensor conformal to the Maxwell theory. Distinctive features of this model are: the absence of dimensional parameter for non-linearity description and a very simple form of the dominant energy condition, which can be easily verified in an arbitrary pseudo-riemannian space-time with the consequent constrains on the model parameters. In this paper we analyse some properties of astrophysical compact objects coupled to conformal vacuum non-linear electrodynamics

The concept of special escrow accounts to improve mortgage housing loans in Russia

Purpose: The article aims to identify and evaluate the key determinants of improving mortgage lending in Russia. Increasing the participation of financial institutions in the application of escrow accounts is of paramount importance in terms of fine-tuning the process of improving mortgage lending in Russia. Design/Methodology/Approach: In order to further improve housing mortgage lending, it seems necessary: firstly, to identify new opportunities that contribute to the development of a system of interaction between credit and financial organizations and borrowers in terms of using the innovative functions of escrow accounts; secondly, to highlight the functions, during the application of which the increase in the efficiency of the escrow account mechanism will be optimal; thirdly, to formulate recommendations on the implementation of the necessary changes in the process of applying escrow accounts, taking into account the peculiarities of mortgage lending in Russia. Findings: To fully take into account the potential impact of special escrow accounts on the process of interaction between the lender and the borrower, an additional escrow account functionality was developed, aimed at improving mortgage lending. Practical Implications: The results of the study can be put into practice in order to expand the range of escrow account functions used in the process of mortgage lending in Russia. Originality/Value: The main contribution of this study is the emphasis on the need to introduce innovative approaches to increase the functionality of escrow accounts used in the process of mortgage lending in Russia.peer-reviewe

The digitalization features of the Russian social media market insurance service

Purpose: The article aims to identify the features of digital techniques introduction and functioning in the insurance industry and the social insurance system. The information techniques used allows to quickly and with the best results to process large amounts of data, thereby increasing the efficiency of all the spheres to reduce social and commercial risks. Design/Methodology/Approach: In order to substantiate introducing the digital techniques expediency in the activity of the insurance system, it is necessary, first, to consider the advantages and disadvantages of information techniques use in the commercial and social insurance. Second, to describe the main digital programs, the implementation of which will increase the targeting and personalization of insurance services. Findings: For the digital techniques introduction in the sphere of insurance relations it is necessary to form the wholly new structure of insurance assets that meet the priorities of the digital economy; to create the necessary conditions for the development and implementation of modern actuarial techniques; to create conditions for increasing incomes and the life standard of the population in order to stimulate demand for insurance services; to change the structure and quality of social services. Practical implications: The results of the study can be implemented in the practice of social funds and insurance companies in order to improve the quality of insurance services. Originality/value: The main contribution of this research is to transfer the processes and mechanisms for the global digital economy and global digital space formation to the social and insurance relations.peer-reviewe

Directed transport in periodically rocked random sawtooth potentials

We study directed transport of overdamped particles in a periodically rocked random sawtooth potential. Two transport regimes can be identified which are characterized by a nonzero value of the average velocity of particles and a zero value, respectively. The properties of directed transport in these regimes are investigated both analytically and numerically in terms of a random sawtooth potential and a periodically varying driving force. Precise conditions for the occurrence of transition between these two transport regimes are derived and analyzed in detail.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure

ANALYSIS OF FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHOOL DRESS CODE

The aim of this article is to analyze the international discourse on policy issues of school dress code; to identify problems relevant to the national system of education, and proposed ways of their solution. Methods. The methods involve summarizing of the content of the leading internationalsources regarding issues regarding school education and health; a systematic analysis of sociological researchResults. The polemic aspects to the requirements for the appearance of the students are considered. These requirements affect many important aspects and the principles of functioning of an educational system and all society in general: the observance of the constitutional rights of a child, including freedom of expression on grounds of gender; tolerance policy of intra school and state policy in the light of migration processes; problems of leveling of social and economic stratification of children, etc. The advantages and disadvantages of existing approaches to the development requirements in the countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America are analysed.Scientific novelty. The influence of policy of a school dress-code on children’s behavior and health, relationships in multinational school groups, identification and safety of school students is proved. The ambiguity of information expressiveness and  ignificance of garments of clothing and other elements of appearance of modern school students is disclosed: symbols of belonging to a religious and/or national culture, a well-known fashion brand, a modern informal/political trend, as well as the severity of gender differences in the design of school uniforms. The correlation between the wording of the requirements of the dress code and the effectiveness of its implementation from the point of view of minimization of internal stresses in the school team is defined.Practical significance. Based on the systemized proposals for quality improvement of the socio-cultural environment of educational institutions, it will be possible to improve the efficiency of interaction of participants of an educational processЦель статьи – проанализировать аспекты международного дискурса по поводу политики школьного дресс-кода; выявить связанные с ним проблемы, актуальные для отечественной системы образования, и показать возможные пути их решения. Методика и методы – обобщение содержания зарубежных публикаций по вопросам школьного образования и здравоохранения; системный анализ социологических исследований, касающихся дресс-кода.Результаты. Рассмотрены полемизируемые во многих странах требования к внешнему виду учащихся. Эти требования затрагивают многие важные аспекты и принципы функционирования системы образования и всего общества в целом: соблюдение конституционных прав ребенка, в том числе на свободу самовыражения по национальному и гендерному признакам; толерантность внутришкольной и государственной политики в свете миграционных процессов; проблемы нивелирования социально-экономического расслоения детей и др. Разобраны достоинства и недостатки существующих в различных государствах Европы, Азии, Африки, Северной Америки подходов к разработке требований к школьному дресс-коду. Научная новизна. Доказано влияние политики школьного дресс-кода на культуру поведения и здоровье детей, взаимоотношения в многонациональных школьных коллективах, идентификацию и обеспечение безопасности школьников. Вскрыта неоднозначность информационной выразительности и знаковости предметов одежды и других элементов внешнего вида современных школьников: символов принадлежности к религиозной и/или национальной культуре, известному модному бренду, современному неформальному/политическому течению; а также степени выраженности гендерного различия в дизайне школьной формы. Обозначена взаимосвязь между формулировками требований дресс-кода и эффективностью его внедрения с точки зрения минимизации внутреннего напряжения в школьном коллективе. Практическая значимость. Систематизированы предложения по повышению качества социокультурной среды образовательных учреждений, на основе которых возможно укрепление позитивного взаимодействия участников образовательного процесса