Video games, extended reality, and learning

: developing decision-making skills for corporate environments through extended reality gaming

Abstract

This thesis examines whether extended reality (XR) video games enhance decision-making skills more effectively than traditional games. While prior studies have shown general cognitive benefits of gaming, the specific contribution of immersive XR environments remains underexplored. A quantitative, comparative, and experimental design was employed with three groups: Non-Gamers, Traditional Gamers, and XR Gamers. Decision-making competence was assessed using two validated instruments: the Adult Decision-Making Competence (A-DMC) battery, focusing on resistance to framing, recognizing social norms, and resistance to sunk costs, and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), which measures reflective versus intuitive thinking. Results indicate that XR Gamers outperformed both Traditional and Non-Gamers on key measures. They showed greater resistance to framing effects and sunk cost fallacies, demonstrating stronger rational judgment and adaptability in forward-looking decisions. XR Gamers also achieved the highest CRT scores, suggesting enhanced reflective thinking. These findings imply that the immersive and cognitively demanding nature of XR environments fosters deeper engagement with complex decision processes. However, XR Gamers scored lower on recognizing social norms, suggesting that while XR promotes cognitive independence, it may reduce sensitivity to group-based conventions. Overall, the study concludes that XR video games provide distinctive advantages for developing decision-making skills relevant to corporate environments. By simulating high-stakes, feedback-rich scenarios, XR fosters rational evaluation, adaptability, and bias resistance, positioning it as a promising tool for managerial training and organizational learning.

Date of Award	17 Oct 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Peter V. Rajsingh (Supervisor)