Psychology alumnus Chris Hauck will apply his research on human factors psychology to better understand players’ needs in game
Chris Hauck
By Taylor Pedersen, CLA Student Writer - November 27, 2024
From a childhood love of video games to a career at a leading gaming company, Chris Hauck, Ph.D. ‘24, has made his passion his profession. This fall, Hauck will begin a new position as a full-time researcher at Riot Games, known for its globally popular games like League of Legends and Valorant. From player to professional, Hauck was driven by his curiosity about the human mind, leading him to explore the intersection of psychology and gaming, ultimately shaping the future of video game design.
Hauck’s story begins in New Jersey, where he attended community college before transferring to Rowan University in Glassboro to pursue a degree in psychology. Initially, Hauck planned to become a school counselor, but his path took a significant turn when he discovered human factors psychology—a field that applies psychological principles to the design of technology and user experiences. It was during his time at Rowan that Hauck’s childhood love for video games found an academic outlet. He joined a research lab which explored how video game players interact with visual stimuli.
This early exposure to research, combined with supportive mentorship from faculty members who encouraged his unique interests, was crucial for Hauck. "I met a faculty member in my cognitive psychology class who studied human factors psychology," Hauck recalled. "He was teaching cognitive psychology but worked in industry. So he told me about this whole field where people are studying psychology and applying it to technology and design. I kind of took that and ran with it."
Run with it, he did. After Rowan, Hauck pursued a master’s degree in psychology at the University of Idaho, where he joined a UX (user experience) psychology lab. His work there, which bridged the gap between academic research and practical application in the tech industry, was pivotal. This led him to Blizzard Entertainment, where he spent several years focusing on customer support software and website design—a role that deepened his understanding of how psychological principles could enhance user experiences in the digital world.
Despite his success at Blizzard, Hauck was drawn back to academia. Encouraged by colleagues who held Ph.Ds., and driven by a desire to teach, he decided to pursue a doctorate at OSU under the expertise of Professor Mei-Ching Lien, a leading scholar in human factors psychology. Hauck’s doctoral research delved into the study of attention, or specifically the lack thereof. Hauck’s findings suggested that a person’s strategy for focusing their attention—what psychologists call "top-down" processing—can significantly influence their susceptibility to distractions. This research is not only relevant to improving driving safety but also to the gaming industry, where understanding how players focus on or miss crucial in-game information can enhance game design.
"The research that we ended up doing was having participants engage in a visual search task, where participants responded to something on the display," Hauck explained. "It’s pretty basic cognitive psychology, but the hope is that what we learn about how people are distracted helps us navigate the world. Whether that’s through an app, through driving, or just walking down the street.”
Though looking forward to his role at Riot Games, beyond his work in the industry, Hauck harbors a deep interest in teaching. He sees a significant benefit in having educators with industry experience, as they can bring strength to connecting academic theory to real-world application. His advice to students hoping to combine their passions with their careers is clear: get involved in research early, seek out mentorship, and be proactive in building a portfolio. He emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience, whether through internships, research labs, or personal projects. "It’s about finding how people got to where you want to be, and then positioning yourself to get that experience,".
Hauck’s journey epitomizes how passion, when combined with the right opportunities and mentorship, can lead to a fulfilling and impactful career. As he steps into his new role at Riot Games, there is no doubt Hauck will enhance the experiences of players around the world, continuing to utilize the intersection of psychology and gaming.