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Compare, Contrast, Control, & Placebos by Hawke, last updated: Oct 27, 2009 11:26 PM

Spokane shooting - Sean Fitzpatrick - 2003 by Hawke, last updated: Oct 27, 2009 09:55 AM: High school kid shot by swat team in Spokane, Washington. Dungeons & Dragons mentioned. Several articles related to this.

The Defamation of Role-playing Gaming and Gamers. (November 2008, Rev. Dec. 2008) by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:44 PM: Another document that was published in shorter (more polished) form in elsewhere, but I am posting the longer draft here, so that I can work on finishing the lengthier version to cover the other topics that were cut in the interest of magazine space.

References not included in citation pages (December 2008) by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:41 PM: These are a smattering of other references that looked interesting, but did not end up being used in the earlier (pre-2009) papers, but may be of use in upcoming research and essays.

Role-playing Games Used as Educational and Therapeutic Tools for Children, Youth, and Adults (December 2008) by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:40 PM: This is another draft document. It spends less content on the history of RPGs, and more time on possible uses for different populations. This is closer to the developing thesis statement for possible approaches of the RPG Research project. This includes a diagram of overlapping benefits, an annotated bibliography, and list of works cited. This is currently in MLA format and needs to be converted to APA format. An associated diagram should be created to indicate any possible impact in the biological, psychological, and sociocultural areas as well (if research merits).

The Battle Over Role Playing Gaming (Full Length Version - April 2007) by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:26 PM: This is the longer, though less polished 11 page version. There is a smaller 8 page version of this document that had some topics cut out for brevity that was published in Other Minds Magazine issue #1. This is the longer draft that has some more topics mentioned, but could use some more fleshing out and polishing.

The Battle Over Role Playing Gaming (Other Minds Version - June 2007) by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:25 PM: This version was trimmed from 11 page down to 8 pages to fit the magazine publishing size requirements. This essay provides a slightly more detailed look at the history and possible impact of role playing games. Audience: Adults that have not experienced role playing gaming. This version was published in Other Minds Magazine Issue #1

An Overview of the History And Therapeutic Value of Role Playing Gaming (September 2004, Rev. Feb. 2007) by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:05 PM: An essay providing a brief overview of the history of role playing gaming, and some possible benefits for those who participate in this cooperative leisure activity.

Proposal for Role Playing Gaming Using American Sign Language (October 2007) by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 06:58 PM: This was part of a larger proposal for a series of recreational activities for Deaf & Hard of Hearing participants using American Sign Language. This proposes what may be necessary for an organized role playing gaming session without any auditory interaction.

A little personal historical context on how the RPG Research Project has evolved. by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 08:10 AM: This posting is a more personal history of how the RPG Research project evolved over the years. Though some content seems tangential, it all ties together eventually over the decades towards helping make this project possible. This is sort of a short autobiography, but focused on components that seem relevant to the development and implementation of this project, it is by no means complete due to this focus point. I was first introduced to role playing gaming around 1978-1979 by a cousin using the original D&D rules. A few months later I was playing it intermittently with friends. It was not until 1984 that I began to get much more involved with rpging (then using AD&D) with a neighborhood friend, playing fairly regularly, usually weekly for a few hours. Within a year, I was gaming rather intensely. By 1985 I was DMing my own group. Eventually I was DMing 3 diferent groups, 2 on Saturday and one on Sunday. Originally it was one group but began getting so large, I broke it up into separate groups. Around this time I began charging $1.00 per gamer per session. This was to feed my hobby. I would use the money to purchase rulebooks, modules, miniatures, dice, battlemats, miniature paints & brushes, etc. I eventually setup my first "convention" with about 12 participants at a local library. The following year (around Summer of 1986 I believe), I had my second convention. I was then an RPGA member, and hosted an AD&D RPGA-rules-based convention, though not fully RPGA official. I had upwards of 50 participants with different DM's running the tables. This was at the Milllcreek Library in Salt Lake City. It was for one full day. Around the same time I was attending Realms of Inquiry school for "gifted & talented" children. My friends and I would game during lunch & recess breaks, and sometimes after school waiting to be picked up from parents. The girls would taunt and tease and accuse the game of being devil worshiping. This was during the heyday of the "Satanic Panic" and other balony thanks to B.A.D.D. (Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons), which I detail in some of the essays in the Documentation section of the site. This was upsetting enough to me, that when our English teacher asked us to write a minimum 3 page essay on something related to current events that we felt had an impact in our lives, I decided to write about the benefits of RPGing, and refute all the junk that was floating around. I received an excellent grade for this 8 page essay, and she actually asked me if I would read it to the class, since she thought it would help with the issues with the girls taunting the game. I did so, and the following weeks, the taunting immediately stopped, and some girls actually showed interest in asking more questions about the game. I wish I had that old essay, it would be interesting to see it after all this time. Meanwhile, coincidentally, we lost our Theater/Drama teacher for reasons I don't recall. This left a big hole in the curricullum schedule for a little while. Initially the Headmaster just allowed us to use the theater/gym for volleyball or other activities, or to use the time to work on homework. At some point however, I had the crazy idea of running a role playing gaming class during that slot. I approached the headmaster about that. After some back and forth, and his asking me to write up a semi-formal proposal. He tentatively agreed, with the condition that I didn't let it impact my grades. It was a great experience setting up "Class" in the biology classroom (it had the best tables for rpg sessions). I setup several tables with different genres. One was ICE MERP (Middle-earth Role-playing), another was Call of Cthulu (1920's horror based on HP Lovecraft's works), another was a cowboy western setting for Boot Hill, another was science fiction, and another was classic AD&D. I wanted to give everyone as broad an experiene as possible, so that they didn't continue with the misconception that D&D was "it". As everyone filed in, both boys and girls to this totally ellective course, i initially discussed a little about the high level overview of RPGing. Then quickly found out which genres which people would want to start with. I then let everyone take turns between different genres and different roles as either player or game master as per their preference. Then I would walk around to the tables and interject with suggestions, rules help, etc. This was a blast, and an unbelievable dream come true for a gaming young teen. This lasted for about a month or so. Then 2 things happened to end it. First, a new teacher was found to fill the timeslot, and secondly, due to all the time I put into prepare each daily class, five days a week, my grades did suffer, so the headmaster had the program ended. However, many of the participants continued playing on their own, and no one taunted any of the players anymore either. So I think was a very benefical opportunity, and only a school like Realms would have had the open mindedness and flexibility to let a mere kid take such an opportunity. I am especially grateful to Ross Jones for having taken the chance and shown the kindness and support. "May the hair on his toes never fall out" --The Hobbit That was pretty much the end of my gaming "activism" days. After that I continued to game here and there, though less intensely, and sometimes with years-long gaps between gaming session. But I managed for the most part ot hang on to all of my gaming books over the years thankfully. Around 1989-1991 living in Utah, besides working as an automotive technician I was also involved with many brief jobs in the medical industry, including working as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) at Doxie Hatch Medical Center, a glorified orderly emergency room prep tech at St. Marks Hospital, a Habilitation Therapist for the disabled at Hillcrest Care Center, a salesman for Bodywise Nutritional Supplements, and picking up various stage and video acting gigs. I very much enjoyed the Habilitation Therapist job and the acting. While living in Malad City, Idaho around 2002-2004, in addition to working as an information technology & security consultant, one of several small businesses I ran was "The Computer Schools" offering technical education services to all ages. I had regular customers from ages 7 up to 76. Some students were brought in by their parents because they needed help with computer courses they were struggling with in school. One teenage boy in particular had been diagnosed with severe ADHD, and he according to his mother he was failing typing class, because he would keep taking things apart, and was generally just not interested. I explained I didn't have any formal training in such issues, but I would give it a shot, since I had my own background developing coping mechanisms with ADHD, dysgraphia, dyscalcula, etc. To me it seemed very simply straight forward, come up with a way to make learning typing fun. So I found some online typing video games, put a box over the keyboard so he couldn't see his hands on the keyboard, and "made" him play the video games for 30 minutes each day. I also took about 15 minutes just talking to him about computer hardware, because he was interested in "how it all works", and that was why he kept taking the computers at his high school apart (without permission). I brought in old computer parts, and explained their design and function, and even let him assemble basic test systems. The mother was stunned how he stayed seated and focused for the full time of 45 minutes most days, and he immediately improved not only in typing class, but other courses at school. This piqued my interest in child psychology. In speaking with a PhD-level psychologist I'd known for years, I mentioned some interest in that field of study. He made it clear I would hate it because the insurance companies made it an hour of paperwork for every hour spent with a client, and that it was very restrictive in what could be done. He suggested I look into "alternative therapies". I researched, and came across Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, and Recreational Therapy. I settled on Recreation & Music Therapy as the best approach to the ideas I was beginning to form in my head, and I thought my background in music, martial arts, outdoorsmanship, and many other areas would be a good combination. I was not involved in any role playing gaming while living in Malad (I was mostly on the road building my businesses during 2002-2003). I had worked with computers and related technologies since 1979. I made it a full time career from 1995 through 2003. Thanks to circumstances making it possible, I was able to come home to be with the kids and focus more on being a father who was there to help raise them, rather than continuing to be on the road for weeks at a time.. I retired from full time work in this field in 20003 so that I could be home to focus on the family, though I've continued the occasional short gigs, mostly speaking and advising gigs, and talk shows. Tech has been part of my life since I was 9, it'll always be an aspect. I began getting more proactive in RPGing in 2004 shortly after moving to Spokane. I started finding the local gaming stores, and posting flyers, and building my own new groups. This was also a wayt to start getting to know people and develop a social network. Through gaming, working at KYRS radio, and some general entreprenurial endeavors, I began developing a personal and professional network in the area. I began attending EWU in January 2004 very part time (just while kids in school), working very slowly towards a degree in Therpeutic Recreation with a dual minor in music and psychology with a research emphasis. I hope to at least acquire a Masters, and preferably a PhD by 2018, when my kids will be fully grown (18+), and then I will dedicate much more of my time to therapeutic recreation, music therapy, and psychological research projects. In the Summer of 2005 I hosted the first annual "MerpCon" (Middle-earth Role Playing Convention) in Spokane. I continued hosting this free even until Summer 2009. I had committed to five years, and followed through with that committment. Details at http://www.merpcon.com. I have learned much, and benfitted greatly from that experience, though it has been a lot of work for one person, and now is too large for one person to continue. I am tentively planning to continue the convention, but under the new name of TolkienMoot http://www.tolkienmoot.org, and expand the venue further. However, I am stiill undecided if I am up to doing so next year, or if I want to give it a few years hiatus while I finish raising my kids, and working on my degree, and all the other projects including the RPG Research project, though they tie in nicely. It's time to call it a night, but here is some background history I hope some find useful. Cheers! -Hawke

A little historical context on how the RPG Research Project has evolved. by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:45 AM

RPGing resources to contact and develop network with by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:11 AM

Re: RPGing resources to contact and develop network with by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:11 AM: Some quick background on earlier resource development contacts. Around the Summer of 2006 I made my first semi-officlal pitch about the RPG Research project to a former head of the Eastern Washington University Pscyhology department. He was kind enough to give me a few hours of his time in private to help get a clearer picture of approaches to take, and pitfalls to watch for. In explaining the goal of the longitudinal multivariable study, he explained that until I had at least my masters, and preferablly my doctorate, that I would need to find someone to sponsor (and basically take over) my project. I asked about how it would work if I approached EWU with a proposal. He explained the process. He also (very politically carefully) warned me that if I did go through the university, that by the end of the process, the research project would come out a very different creature than going in, and would likely not be meeting the goals I hoped to check, but rather other professors' goals. For smaller projects this might not be an issue, but for the larger one, it was recommended to either wait until I had my own advanced degress, or else try to find someone who would be the "front man" for the project, someone with a masters or doctorate level degree. I spoke with a few Masters level therapists and psychologists, and though they had some interest in the project, they were not research-strong, and so weren't really the right contacts. Later that summer in Salt Lake City, I spoke to an old family friend and PhD-level psychologist, who was semi-retired. He was not interested in sponsoring the projects, but provided the additional suggestions to first take on smaller projects, and work up the larger one. He specifically mentioned contacting local V.A. Hospitals about PTSD sufferers, especially recent ones returning from the Iraq & Afghanistan wars. He said this was an area that really needed more tools to help people. So this is a topic I hope to research further, and I need to make some contacts at the local Spokane V.A. to develop contacts there for future research. Interestingly enough tonight, one of the people I spoke with is in a group who has a participant struggling with PTSD after multiple tours in Iraq, and is finding the RPGing cathardic. It would be interesting to further research that. So, those are some thoughts and history I wanted to get written down as reminders going forward. Ciao for now! -Hawke

Re: RPGing resources to contact and develop network with by Hawke, last updated: Oct 24, 2009 07:00 AM: Thanks to Katy for sending a reference to M. at WotC. Haven't heard back from that email meet, but hopefully something around next week. Meanwhile, at The Gamers II Dorkness Rising post screening tonight at Coffee Social on Indiana, I went ahead and spoke with both Scott ("Bards Suck") and Christian ("I'm not evil") about the RPG Research project. I am still developing my "elevator pitch" on this, but I think it's getting there. Anyhow, they at least seemed interested and intrigued. Scott indicated Don might want to know more, and he would forward my card with the rpgresearch.cocm website url and my phone and email. Meanwhile Christian was kind enough to provide me with his email to contact him. So I will follow up in a few days, and refresh his memory, they seem to have a very busy schedule. My hope from them is to gather resources for game masters and players who are willing to provide demographics information, participate in clinical research studies, etc. Many others to contact over time, but off to a good continuation this week. Now back to my Human Development backlog...

Re: Tests for consideration by Hawke, last updated: Oct 23, 2009 11:19 PM: This has been moved to the Documentation section for drafting.

Tests for consideration by Hawke, last updated: Oct 23, 2009 11:19 PM

News by admin, last updated: Oct 23, 2009 08:56 AM: Site News

News by admin, last updated: Oct 23, 2009 08:56 AM: Site News

D&D Therapy by Mur Lafferty, last updated: Oct 23, 2009 08:46 AM: by Mur Lafferty, 29 Aug 2006 5:00 am

RPG-related Essays by W.A. Hawke Robinson by Hawke, last updated: Oct 23, 2009 08:25 AM: Here are various essays by project founder Hawke Robinson, related to RPG Research.

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