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The rise of the motivational information systems: A review of gamification research
Abstract and Figures
Today, our reality and lives are increasingly game-like, not only because games have become a pervasive part of our lives, but also because activities, systems and services are increasingly gamified. Gamification refers to designing information systems to afford similar experiences and motivations as games do, and consequently, attempting to affect user behavior. In recent years, popularity of gamification has skyrocketed and manifested in growing numbers of gamified applications, as well as a rapidly increasing amount of research. However, this vein of research has mainly advanced without an agenda, theoretical guidance or a clear picture of the field.
To make the picture more coherent, we provide a comprehensive review of the gamification research (N = 819 studies) and analyze the research models and results in empirical studies on gamification. While the results in general lean towards positive findings about the effectiveness of gamification, the amount of mixed results is remarkable. Furthermore, education, health and crowdsourcing as well as points, badges and leaderboards persist as the most common contexts and ways of implementing gamification. Concurrently, gamification research still lacks coherence in research models, and a consistency in the variables and theoretical foundations. As a final contribution of the review, we provide a comprehensive discussion, consisting of 15 future research trajectories, on future agenda for the growing vein of literature on gamification and gameful systems within the information system science field.
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... Gamification uses game elements in non-gaming situations to enhance user experiences and commitment (Huber and Hilty, 2015). Indeed, these games can produce positive psychological and behavioural effects (Koivisto and Hamari, 2019) while also fostering intrinsic motivation and promoting a sense of relatedness, autonomy and competence (Pasca et al., 2021). ...
... Gamification has been applied in different domains, including health care, finance, promotion, training, sports, commerce, education and customer relations (Koivisto and Hamari, 2019;Fern andez-Ruano et al., 2022). The advancement and widespread use of technological advancements such as digital platforms and mobile technologies are enhancing the potential to apply gamification in the tourism industry (Buhalis et al., 2019). ...
... The advancement and widespread use of technological advancements such as digital platforms and mobile technologies are enhancing the potential to apply gamification in the tourism industry (Buhalis et al., 2019). Recent studies reiterate that a gamification is an effective approach to promoting ecofriendly behaviour (Casais and Ferreira, 2023;Xu et al., 2017), as it has been proven to genuinely produce positive psychological and behavioural effects (Koivisto and Hamari, 2019;Pasca et al., 2021). Specifically, eco-gamification or green gamification provides tourist destinations with an opportunity to motivate tourists to engage in sustainable behaviour (Frías-Jamilena et al., 2022). ...
Purpose
This study used an integrated model that incorporates the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to empirically investigate how eco-gamification stimulates users' sustainability knowledge and, consequently, their pro-sustainable intentions through the mediating roles of sustainable knowledge and psychological and social norms. Thus, the study aims to examine users'’ experiences with the JouleBug app, which is designed to encourage users to complete at least one daily green task.
Design/methodology/approach
After a trial period of two weeks, a total of 360 participants completed the post-game survey during the research process.
Findings
The findings from the structural equation modeling and data analysis indicated a good fit for the model. The findings demonstrate that usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment of eco-gamification enrich users' sustainability knowledge, which, in turn, strongly influences their pro-sustainable intentions. According to the findings, the three factors of TPB have a significant impact on users' pro-sustainability intentions. Both sustainable knowledge and social cues play mediating roles in such relationships.
Practical implications
This study advocates that eco-gamification can be used as a platform to modify tourists’ pro-sustainability intentions in emerging tourism and technology destinations such as Egypt. Hence, this study offers significant information to tourism planners and other stakeholders on tourists’ behavioural intentions.
Originality/value
This study examined the effectiveness of an integrated model of TAM and TBP in predicting tourists’ intentions to use eco-gamification to improve the sustainability of tourist destinations.
... Adapting gamification in the classroom, students are encouraged to actively engage in the learning process, to ultimately enhance academic outcomes (Groening & Binnewies, 2019). When a user voluntarily participates in the gamified activity, they experience more constructive intrinsic motivation that further shapes their learning behavior (Koivisto & Hamari, 2019). ...
... Empirical research on the effects of game elements on psychological need satisfaction is limited (Bitrián et al., 2021; although recent studies do call for more understanding of engagement with gamification; Fang et al., 2017;Ho & Chung, 2020). In the domain of education (Kasurinen & Knutas, 2018;Koivisto & Hamari, 2019;Seaborn & Fels, 2015), identify the need for more advanced classroom technology that adapts to modern students' needs (Montazami et al., 2022;Young, 2016). Furthermore, technology should be fit for purpose. ...
Educators have incorporated technologies designed to “gamify” or increase the fun and reward of classroom learning, but little is known about how these resources can be employed to create positive learning climates. Informed by self-determination theory (SDT), two experiments investigated a number of strategies teachers can use to frame one such technology, the student response system (SRS), when they use it as an educational tool to enhance its fun and contribution to positive learning environments. Participants (n = 30) in a pilot experiment were randomly assigned to a 2-month experiment that showed that using SRS versus non-technology-based learning increases academic well-being. A primary study (n = 120 students) experimentally manipulated the use of SRS with and without motivational framing strategies that were anticipated to enhance its effects, specifically by employing teamwork, friendly competition between students, and giving students a choice to participate. Results showed that motivational framing strategies enhanced students’ need satisfaction for autonomy (sense of choice), competence (sense of efficacy in relation to learning), relatedness (to others in the classroom), and academic well-being (interest and engagement). In short, the use of interactive technology and how it was implemented in class was vital for enhancing students’ learning outcomes.
... The increasing trend in the number of articles indexed in Scopus with a timespan (2012-2022) that contain the words "skills" or "competences" and "games" in the title, abstract, or keywords ( Figure 1) reflects the growing recognition of the importance of specific skills in today's rapidly changing world. Experts say video games can help individuals develop skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration [22][23][24]. This research looks at how playing games can improve 21st-century skills. ...
This study explores how gamification in DOTA 2 cultivates 21st-century skills (problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking). It supports DOTA 2 as an immersive platform for skill development. The study investigated various sources, including player surveys, meticulous gameplay analysis, academic research reviews, and expert opinions. By synthesizing this evidence, the study sheds light on DOTA 2’s potential to hone and refine abilities. Player surveys revealed individuals’ acquisition of adaptability in dynamic situations, cultivation of strategic thinking abilities, and enhancement of effective team collaboration skills. An in-depth examination of gameplay unveiled discernible patterns of collaborative effort and cognitive processes aimed at resolving challenges resembling real-world situations. Existing scholarly literature substantiates these findings and highlights gaming’s role in developing 21st-century competencies. The study emphasizes the potential implications of its results for stakeholders, such as educators, policymakers, and game developers, offering valuable opportunities for the practical application of gamification strategies. It sparks further investigation and exploration of unexplored research avenues. This study contributes to the growing body of literature recognizing gaming’s substantial advantages in fostering crucial 21st-century skills.
... Gamification is the application of game design concepts in non-gaming situations (Deterding et al., 2011). Motivation and engagement, the two most studied gamification concepts, both influence usage behaviors ( Koivisto and Hamari, 2019;Liu et al., 2017). ...
Purpose
Using an integrated theoretical model, this study aims to examine the moderating role of gamification in influencing intentions to use mobile payment applications in Bahrain.
Design/methodology/approach
The current examination happens to be the first approximation in the context of Bahrain wherein an extended TPB-based model integrating variables from TAM and UTAUT2 is used along with gamification and situational influence to examine the intentions to use m-payment applications.
Findings
The findings revealed that among the variates of the TPB, AT and PB significantly affect the intentions (IN) to use m-payment applications in Bahrain, but SN fails to affect intentions, similarly SI also fails to affect intentions thereby proving that the pandemic fails to drive the intention of the population under study toward using m-payment applications. However, when the application offers gamification (GM) features, SI significantly affects intentions through GM, thus experience along with situation drives intentions and this becomes the major theoretical contribution of the study.
Practical implications
This examination offers useful practical implications in the form of the findings revealing that GM affects intentions to use m-payment applications and that GM moderates the relationship between perceived risk (PR) and IN, as well as SI and IN, which can be used by the service providers to improve the user experience and achieve better acceptance of their application.
Originality/value
The novelty of the study lies in testing the integrated theoretical model in the context of a GCC nation, Bahrain.
... Gamification enhances a product/service with affordances through gameful experiences that support the overall value creation for users . Gamification has become common in marketing due to its moderating effects on human emotions (Gkorezis et al., 2021), its influence on improving task performance (Koivisto and Hamari, 2019) and its strengthening effect on self-brand connections (Berger et al., 2018), brand relationship quality (Shankar, 2022) and brand engagement and equity (Xi and Hamari, 2020). Most importantly to this research, gamification has been identified as an innovative branding tool that promotes consumer interaction and participation in brand cocreation experiences, essential for brand-based innovation (Nobre and Ferreira, 2017). ...
Purpose
Brand crowdfunding, launched through brands’ social media platforms, can provide a myriad of crowdfunding and branding benefits, such as strengthening brands’ social networks, validating product launches, generating mass exposure and enabling cocreation. Gamification positions brand crowdfunding as an exciting and joyful activity that more deeply engages prosumers. Anchored on resource-based theory, theory of planned behavior and service-dominant logic, this paper aims to develop a brand crowdfunding framework for established brands with insights from two emerging markets: China and India.
Design/methodology/approach
A deductive cross-sectional design is used to gather data from an established brand’s (e.g. Xiaomi) social media followers in China ( n = 826) and India ( n = 358), which is analyzed through PLSc-SEM.
Findings
The results reveal that social media brand engagement is an antecedent of brand crowdfunding participation, brand crowdfunding intention is a predictor of brand loyalty and gamification is a significant moderator in technology-oriented societies.
Originality/value
The paper develops a brand crowdfunding framework that provides insights on how established brands can leverage crowdfunding to enhance their new product development process. The results contribute to the social media brand engagement, crowdfunding, gamification and emerging markets literature.
Software development projects often fail because of insufficient code quality. It is now well documented that the task of testing software, for example, is perceived as uninteresting and rather boring, leading to poor software quality and major challenges to software development companies. One promising approach to increase the motivation for considering software quality is the use of gamification. Initial research works already investigated the effects of gamification on software developers and come to promising. Nevertheless, a lack of results from field experiments exists, which motivates the chapter at hand. By conducting a gamification experiment with five student software projects and by interviewing the project members, the chapter provides insights into the changing programming behavior of information systems students when confronted with a leaderboard. The results reveal a motivational effect as well as a reduction of code smells.
The potential benefits of using the engaging and interactive nature of games to achieve specific objectives have been recognized by researchers and professionals from various domains. Serious games have been developed to impart knowledge, skills, and awareness in areas such as education, healthcare, and the environment, while gamification has been applied to enhance the engagement, motivation, and participation of users in non-game activities such as sustainability and learning. As a result, the fields of game design, software engineering, and user experience are increasingly converging to create innovative solutions that blend the strengths of games with real-world applications.
The main goal of this book has been to foster an environment of collaboration that unites experts from both the software engineering and game development communities. The primary aim has been to facilitate knowledge sharing, exchange of experiences, and interdisciplinary perspectives to explore the latest opportunities, challenges, costs, and benefits associated with games in serious contexts. Additionally, the book seeks to establish a fresh research agenda that aligns with the emerging trends and issues in the field.
The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the major challenges that must be addressed by the software engineering and game development communities to fully realize the potential of serious games and gamification in various domains.
Purpose: This study aims to map the conceptual structure and evolution of the recent scientific literature published in marketing journals to identify the areas of interest and potential future research directions.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The 100 most influential marketing academic papers published between 2018 and 2022 were identified and scrutinized through a bibliometric analysis.
Findings: Our findings further upheld the critical role of emerging technologies such as Blockchain in marketing and identified artificial intelligence and live streaming as emerging trends, reinforcing the importance of data-driven marketing in the discipline.
Originality: This is the first comprehensive article offering a general overview of the leading trends and researchers in marketing state-of-the-art research.
Research limitations: The data collection included only the 100 most cited documents between 2018 and 2022, and data were limited only to Scopus Database and restrained to the Scopus-indexed marketing journals. Moreover, documents were selected based on the number of citations. Nevertheless, the dataset may still provide significant insight into the marketing field.
Practical implications: Influential authors, papers, and journals identified in this study will facilitate future literature searches and scientific dissemination in the field. This study makes an essential contribution to the marketing literature by identifying hot topics and suggesting future research themes. Also, the important role of emerging technologies and the shift of marketing towards a more data-driven approach will have significant practical implications for marketers.
Keywords: Marketing; Bibliometric Analysis; Citation Analysis; Research Publications; Science Mapping.
The objective of this paper is to understand the perception that younger elderly persons have towards the usefulness of playing Xbox Kinect video games as an assistive technology that is designed to maintain their cognitive abilities. Available literature highlights two kinds of assistive technologies; the first being Supportive Technologies that provide aid for already-declined functional abilities (such as hearing aids), and the second being Empowering Technologies that maintain functional abilities which have not yet declined (such as Xbox Kinect cognitive games). The difference in the nature between supportive and empowering technologies plays an important role in perceiving their benefits. For instance, while hearing aids as a supportive technology are perceived as useful through the improvement of hearing abilities, cognitive training games as an empowering technology have a long-term usefulness for cognitive abilities. This study conducts twenty-one qualitative interviews (range 65–87 years; mean = 71; SD = 3.81) and introduces perceived transfer effect. This effect allows the elderly to perceive the usefulness of playing cognitive training video games, which are designed to cultivate the cognitive abilities. In addition, this study found that the elderly value their independent living, and through cognitive video games, the elderly may remain capable of living independently.
Keywords
Assistive technology, Cognitive training video games, Elderly, Adoption, Usefulness
Interdependence and network convergence among users characterize strong online social networks and fuel continuance intention. However, little is known about what personality traits are related to interdependence and network convergence. This study answers this question by utilizing social exchange theory to develop the hypotheses. We survey 2212 online gamers and analyse the data with structural equation modelling. We find that extraversion and openness are positively related to interdependence and network convergence, while conscientiousness is negatively related to interdependence and network convergence. Moreover, agreeableness is positively related to interdependence, while neuroticism is negatively related to interdependence. Finally, both interdependence and network convergence are positively related to continuance intention. This study is the first to examine how personality traits are related to interdependence and network convergence, which fuel continuance intention of online gamers.
Online games have created significant opportunities for electronic commerce managers. The degree to which online gamers regard their avatars—their gaming representations— as themselves is known to be influential to gamers’ behavior but little is known about how such identification impacts online gamer loyalty (i.e., gamers’ continued intention to play). This study filled this gap by developing its research framework from the perspective of the social identity theory and the social capital theory. Responses from 1384 online gamers were collected, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The analytical results indicate that avatar identification (the degree to which users regard avatars as themselves) is positively related to participation in gaming communities and social presence (the degree of awareness of other persons and interpersonal relationships). These were further positively related to online gamer loyalty. This study is the first using the two theories, i.e., the social identity and social capital theoretical perspectives, to clarify the mechanism underlying the impact of avatar identification on online gamer loyalty, assisting electronic commerce managers to create a loyal user base.
Employees are the human capital that contributes to the success of high-performance and sustainable organizations. In the digital economy, organizations need to be competitive and differentiate them self through the knowledge they detained. This requires the adoption of innovative solutions that valorize and recognize workers who invest their time to keep up-to-date with areas of knowledge that are relevant to the organization. Indeed, organizations are investing in retaining skilled workers, in particular senior workers whose knowledge and experience are a valuable asset that should be passed to younger co-workers. One way to address these concerns is to create conditions to promote a feeling of employee’s wellness in their work environment.
In this paper, the two perception of well-being at the workplace (i.e. physical and social) are combined with gamification techniques and analyzed how it might help employees to acquire the expertise (“soft and hard-skills”) they need to improve their curriculum. This is particularly relevant for older adults to whom the feeling of fulfilment and recognition is much appreciated. The case study relates to the Active@Work project. The proposed solution incorporates an “intelligent behavior” to keep the user aware of their well-being status, triggering notifications to mitigate the risk of fatigue or stress at work. The solution also provides support for workers to engage in new and rewarding activities, where his/her knowledge and experience is considered as a relevant contribution, promoting in this way employee recognition and social well-being at the workplace. Team management and tutoring of younger co-workers by older adults will be, together with a Skill Development Tool, some of the innovative features within the project.
During the last decade games have arguably become the largest form of leisure information systems (IS). However, today games are also increasingly being employed for a variety of instrumental purposes. Although games have garnered a substantial amount of research attention during the last decade, research literature is scattered and there is still a lack of a clear and reliable understanding of why games are being used, and how they are placed in the established utilitarian-hedonic continuum of information systems. To address this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of the quantitative body of literature that has examined the reasons for using games (48 studies). Additionally, we compared the findings across games that are intended for either leisure or instrumental use. Even though games are generally regarded as a pinnacle form of hedonically-oriented ISs, our results show that enjoyment and usefulness are equally important determinants for using them (though their definitive role varies between game types). Therefore, it can be posited that games are multipurpose ISs which nevertheless rely on hedonic factors, even in the pursuit of instrumental outcomes. The present study contributes to and advances our theoretical and empirical understanding of multipurpose ISs and the ways in which they are used.