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SOCIAL KNOWLEDGE: THE GAME Developer: GameTogether Content Developed by: In-Mind Foundation Price: Free (Android), £0.69 (iTunes) Rating: I had high hopes for Social Knowledge. It promises to be the perfect app for me as I’m a sucker for quizzes and fun challenges. The app combines a daily quiz, psychology and ‘fun’ whilst on the go. Available for iPhone and Android, Social Knowledge is a lightweight app that asks one psychology-themed question per day. Your selected response is recorded and the correct answer is given the next day. Users can then click on the ‘Why?’ button to see a summary of the psychology research that verifies the answer. Social Knowledge should please the psychologyinclined, but ultimately I found it didn’t fully satisfy. The ‘daily question’ is more of a ‘daily statement’ and is pitched in a limited ‘true or false’ format. Multiple choice answers are pretty
typical of quiz apps, so there’s nothing to really quibble about here. However, the let-down is that the statements are only mildly interesting. Take this example: “If people are persuaded by a message, they probably paid attention to the message.” With only one statement available per day, sadly this app didn’t hold my attention. Social K would be far more engaging if at least a few questions came with immediate answers – rather than having to wait 24 hours. This sort of instant feedback might prompt me to open the app regularly. That said, it’s not all bad news: discovering the research that backs up the correct answer is genuinely interesting. In-Mind’s commitment to research and the inclusion of a full list of the relevant research is to be applauded. However, without a bank of questions or even an archive, I can’t see this app being a good use of time. Overall, it is a great idea but it doesn’t do enough as it stands to make for a truly engaging experience.
With a PhD from Detroit’s Wayne State University, Kim Lacey from Detroit, USA knows a thing or two about memory studies, digital media and digital humanities. She also has a serious addiction to combo plates at restaurants. You can read about Kim at kimberlylacey.com or follow her on Twitter at @kimlacey.
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G U R U • I S S U E 1 0 • F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 3 • PA G E 3 6
MIDDLING WICKED IN A GOOD WAY