Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

A Corpus Linguistic Analysis of Tabletop Role-Playing Game Blogging

Öffentlich Deposited

Herunterladbarer Inhalt

PDF Herunterladen
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/k0698h46j

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Tabletop role-playing games (TRPG) such as Dungeons & Dragons™ are widely known and enjoyed by diverse individuals across the world. However, TRPGs and their players historically have experienced significant stigmatization due to the misconception by some that fantasy role play leads to psychological dysfunction. While a large body of research exists to the contrary, many mental health professionals still believe that TRPG players are at higher risk for mental health concerns. These studies have the potential to contrast this misconception by offering insight into how this community resembles as well as contrasts the general population psychologically and linguistically. The objective of this dissertation research was twofold. The first manuscript used a computer-assisted text analysis design to analyze the TRPG blogging discourse by comparing it to blogging in general via 17 variables from three categories: broad psycholinguistic processes (authenticity, clout, tone, and analytic), linguistic processes (1st-person singular pronouns, 3rd-person singular pronouns, 1st-person plural pronouns, and 3rd-person plural pronouns), and psychological processes (positive emotion, negative emotion, friend, affiliation, achievement, power, reward, risk, and leisure). The variables were selected based on a review of the literature regarding psychology and TRPGs. Regarding the broad psycholinguistic variables, the results indicated the largest differences between the corpora in the analytic and authentic variables. One linguistic variable, 1st-person singular pronouns, also showed significant difference. The results indicate that TRPG bloggers' discourse differs from blogging in general in their emphasis on resolving interpersonal conflict in the gameplay process. Understanding these themes in TRPG blogging discourse provides deeper insight into the worldview of these individuals, which might assist counselors in building cultural competence in working with this population. The second manuscript used a different corpus linguistic technique to identify the keywords, multiword terms, and the word networks of the keywords that differentiate TRPG blogging from blogging in general. The keyness analysis identified the words “dnd” and “homebrew” as the two keywords and “bonus action” and “spell slot” as the multiword terms that differentiated TRPG blogging from blogging in general. The word networks of “dnd” and “homebrew” emphasized both the unique lexicon of TRPG play, as well as the emphasis on group dynamics in this form of play. These results emphasize the creative potential of TRPG play along with the commitment players feel towards ensuring that gameplay is fair and enjoyable for everyone involved. Counselors and other mental health professionals can use the findings of these studies to increase their knowledge of the values and worldviews of the TRPG player community. This could also help clinicians provide more culturally competent care and harness the creative potential of TRPGs in the therapeutic process.
Contributor
License
Resource Type
Date Issued
Degree Level
Degree Name
Degree Field
Degree Grantor
Commencement Year
Advisor
Committee Member
Academic Affiliation
Urheberrechts-Erklärung
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language

Beziehungen

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Artikel

Miniaturansicht Titel Hochladedatum Sichtbarkeit Aktionen
file details James_R_Paul_2023.pdf 2023-12-26 Öffentlich Herunterladen