Since 2022, Inflexion has served as a trusted research partner to NASEF, supporting its mission to develop STEM, social-emotional, and critical thinking skills through scholastic esports. With funding from the Department of Homeland Security, this project investigated how NASEF’s model fosters inclusion, mitigates disruptive gaming behaviors, and reduces the risk of recruitment into extremist and terrorist organizations. By leveraging case studies and surveys, including Spanish-language implementation in Puerto Rico, Inflexion demonstrated unmatched efficiency and ability to deliver timely, high-quality research results.
Client Background
The Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF) provides students with opportunities to engage in STEM, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning through scholastic esports. NASEF’s mission is to foster positive peer engagement, digital citizenship, and a sense of belonging for students who may not see themselves as traditional academics or athletes. With its unique focus on inclusion and community, the NASEF model offers vulnerable students a safe space to build friendships and develop critical life skills.
Inflexion’s Approach
Inflexion employed a comprehensive and culturally responsive approach to address NASEF’s research goals:
- Timely Execution- Inflexion was the only grantee able to begin data collection and fieldwork shortly after the project’s initiation, demonstrating unmatched efficiency in launching and managing complex research initiatives.
- Multilingual Implementation- With a focus on expanding NASEF’s impact, Inflexion translated and administered surveys in Spanish for implementation in Puerto Rico, working closely with the Department of Education to navigate approvals.
- Rigorous Research Methodologies- Inflexion used a combination of case studies and longitudinal surveys to investigate social dominance attitudes, disruptive gaming behaviors, and the role of self-acceptance in fostering positive outcomes for vulnerable students.
- Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability- By tailoring research tools to the unique needs of diverse student populations, Inflexion ensured findings were relevant and actionable across different cultural contexts.
Research Project
Inflexion partnered with NASEF on a two-year research project funded by the Department of Homeland Security. This groundbreaking initiative explored how scholastic esports could mitigate recruitment into extremist and terrorist organizations by fostering inclusion, developing critical skills, and redirecting vulnerable individuals toward constructive community engagement. In a world where online gaming environments can often become hotbeds for extremist recruitment, the NASEF model offers an alternative by providing students with a sense of belonging, peer support, and opportunities to build social-emotional and critical thinking skills.
Inflexion’s research examined the relationship between social dominance attitudes, disruptive gaming behaviors, and self-acceptance among students participating in the NASEF program. This work highlighted how a strong sense of belonging and community could counteract negative influences and foster positive digital citizenship.
Among all grantees, NASEF, with Inflexion’s assistance, was the only organization able to initiate data collection and fieldwork shortly after the project’s launch. This efficiency ensured that NASEF could begin gathering valuable insights early in the process, setting the stage for timely and actionable recommendations. By combining rigorous research methodologies with a culturally sensitive and efficient approach, Inflexion provided NASEF with the tools and knowledge needed to enhance its mission and expand its impact globally.
Results
Inflexion’s partnership with NASEF has delivered impactful results, underscoring the value of scholastic esports as a tool for fostering inclusion and preventing extremist recruitment. By swiftly initiating data collection and fieldwork, Inflexion demonstrated exceptional efficiency, meeting project milestones ahead of other grantees. This timeliness allowed NASEF to gain critical insights early in the process, strengthening the program’s implementation and long-term impact.
The research revealed key findings about the relationship between social dominance attitudes, disruptive gaming behaviors, and the role of self-acceptance in redirecting vulnerable students toward positive community engagement. These insights highlighted how the NASEF model provides students- especially those who struggle to find a sense of belonging in traditional school settings- with a supportive peer network and opportunities to develop essential skills like teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.
Additionally, Inflexion expanded NASEF’s reach by implementing Spanish-language surveys in Puerto Rico, ensuring that the program’s impact was inclusive of diverse cultural and linguistic contexts. By navigating the complex approval processes required by the Puerto Rico Department of Education, Inflexion showcased its ability to adapt research tools to meet local needs. These results demonstrate Inflexion’s ability to deliver culturally responsive, timely, and actionable research that supports NASEF’s mission to empower students and foster stronger, more inclusive communities.
