Is gamification effective in motivating exercise?

Dion Hoe Lian Goh; Khasfariyati Razikin

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-20916-6_56

Is gamification effective in motivating exercise?

Dion Hoe Lian Goh^*, Khasfariyati Razikin

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite the benefits of exercise, many individuals lack the motivation to integrate it into their daily lives. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of game principles in non-game contexts to make an activity that is perceived to be challenging, tedious or boring more enjoyable. With increased enjoyment through the infusion of game elements, it is expected that individuals will be more motivated to partake in the activity. Given this backdrop, the present study seeks to ascertain the utility of gamification for promoting exercise among individuals. We used Fitocracy as the gamification platform. Our results suggest that gamification improves not only attitudes towards and enjoyment of exercise but also shapes behavior in terms of increase in exercise activity. These findings augur well for gamification platforms and their usefulness in motivating exercise among individuals. Finally, our work suggests design implications for applications that aim to gamify exercise.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Human-Computer Interaction
Subtitle of host publication	Interaction Technologies - 17th International Conference, HCI International 2015, Proceedings
Editors	Masaaki Kurosu
Publisher	Springer Verlag
Pages	608
Number of pages	1
ISBN (Print)	9783319209159
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20916-6_56
Publication status	Published - 2015
Externally published	Yes
Event	17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2015 - Los Angeles, United States Duration: Aug 2 2015 → Aug 7 2015

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume	9170
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	Los Angeles
Period	8/2/15 → 8/7/15

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Theoretical Computer Science
General Computer Science

Keywords

Enjoyment
Exercise
Gamification
Social support

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-319-20916-6_56

Cite this

Goh, D. H. L., & Razikin, K. (2015). Is gamification effective in motivating exercise? In M. Kurosu (Ed.), Human-Computer Interaction: Interaction Technologies - 17th International Conference, HCI International 2015, Proceedings (pp. 608). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 9170). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20916-6_56

Goh, Dion Hoe Lian ; Razikin, Khasfariyati. / Is gamification effective in motivating exercise?. Human-Computer Interaction: Interaction Technologies - 17th International Conference, HCI International 2015, Proceedings. editor / Masaaki Kurosu. Springer Verlag, 2015. pp. 608 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)).

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title = "Is gamification effective in motivating exercise?",

abstract = "Despite the benefits of exercise, many individuals lack the motivation to integrate it into their daily lives. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of game principles in non-game contexts to make an activity that is perceived to be challenging, tedious or boring more enjoyable. With increased enjoyment through the infusion of game elements, it is expected that individuals will be more motivated to partake in the activity. Given this backdrop, the present study seeks to ascertain the utility of gamification for promoting exercise among individuals. We used Fitocracy as the gamification platform. Our results suggest that gamification improves not only attitudes towards and enjoyment of exercise but also shapes behavior in terms of increase in exercise activity. These findings augur well for gamification platforms and their usefulness in motivating exercise among individuals. Finally, our work suggests design implications for applications that aim to gamify exercise.",

keywords = "Enjoyment, Exercise, Gamification, Social support",

author = "Goh, {Dion Hoe Lian} and Khasfariyati Razikin",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.; 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2015 ; Conference date: 02-08-2015 Through 07-08-2015",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-319-20916-6_56",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783319209159",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)",

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Goh, DHL & Razikin, K 2015, Is gamification effective in motivating exercise? in M Kurosu (ed.), Human-Computer Interaction: Interaction Technologies - 17th International Conference, HCI International 2015, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), vol. 9170, Springer Verlag, pp. 608, 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2015, Los Angeles, United States, 8/2/15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20916-6_56

Is gamification effective in motivating exercise? / Goh, Dion Hoe Lian; Razikin, Khasfariyati.
Human-Computer Interaction: Interaction Technologies - 17th International Conference, HCI International 2015, Proceedings. ed. / Masaaki Kurosu. Springer Verlag, 2015. p. 608 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 9170).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution