The Effect of Gamification and Uncertainty in Rewards on Elementary School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Educational Technology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Educational Technology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Gamification is an effective, dynamic, and engaging educational approach which makes the learning process more interactive for participants. This study aims to investigate the impact of gamification and the type of rewards on the learning outcomes of sixth-grade students in Karaj City in 2021.
Methods: This study employs a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design featuring two experimental groups and a control group. The statistical population includes all sixth-grade students in Karaj schools who were studying in November 2021. Eighty-four participants were selected using convenient sampling and then randomly (simple random) assigned to three groups. The first experimental group (n=32) was taught using gamification, which included an element of uncertainty in rewards, and the second experimental group (n=31) was taught with gamification, which included fixed rewards. Conversely, the control group (n=21) used e-learning without gamification. The data collection utilized a 20-item questionnaire developed as an expert-validated learning test with confirmed reliability. The collected data were analyzed using covariance analysis with IBM SPSS v 26. Descriptive statistics were used to report quantitative findings.
Results: The Mean±SD scores for learning outcomes in experimental group 1 were 9.43±3.79 and 14.14±3.52 in the pre- and post-tests, respectively. In experimental group 2, the Mean±SD scores for learning outcomes were 9.85±3.01 and 13.65±3.11 in the pre- and the post-tests, respectively. In the control group, the Mean±SD scores for learning outcomes were 8.47±3.05 and 10.85±4.04 in the pre- and the post-tests, respectively. The results indicate that gamification significantly affects learning (P=0.003). Both gamification groups outperformed the control group in learning outcomes. Despite a higher mean score in the uncertain rewards group, there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups.
Conclusion: Gamification, regardless of the reward type, seems to positively impact students’ learning. Therefore, educators and e-learning designers are encouraged to implement gamification strategies, including elements of uncertainty and chance, to enhance learning experiences in elementary schools.

Highlights

Saber Ghanbari (Google Scholar)

Yousef Mahdavinasab (Google Scholar)

Keywords

References

  1. Deterding S, Dixon D, Khaled R, Nacke L. From Game Design Elements to Gamefulness: Defining Gamification. Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments, MindTrek 2011. Tampere, Finland. New York: ACM; 2011. p. 9-15. doi: 10.1145/2181037.2181040.
  2. Brull S, Finlayson S. Importance of Gamification in Increasing Learning. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2016 Aug 1;47(8):372-5. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20160715-09. PMID: 27467313.
  3. Arnold BJ. Gamification in education. Proceedings of the American Society of Business and Behavioral Sciences. 2014;21(1):32-9. http://asbbs.org/files/ASBBS2014/PDF/A/ArnoldB(P32-39).pdf.
  4. Mahdavinasab YM, Fardaanesh H, Talaa’ee E, Haatami J. A Model for Designing Learning Games in Elementary Schools’ Social Studies Course. QJOE. 2021;37(2):27-48. http://qjoe.ir/article-1-3122-fa.html.
  5. Legaki NZ, Xi N, Hamari J, Karpouzis K, Assimakopoulos V. The effect of challenge-based gamification on learning: An experiment in the context of statistics education. Int J Hum Comput Stud. 2020;144:102496. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2020.102496. Epub 2020 Jun 14. PMID: 32565668; PMCID: PMC7293851.
  6. Batooli Z, Fahimnia F, Naghshineh N, Mirhosseini F. The Analysis and Review of the Literatures in the field of Gamification in e-Learning. TEJ. 2019;13(3):700-712. doi:10.22061/jte.2018.3550.1893.
  7. Hung HT. Gamifying the flipped classroom using game-based learning materials. ELT J. 2018;72(3):296-308. doi: 10.1093/elt/ccx055.
  8. Mohammadhasseini N, Aghazadeh R. The effect of gamification (digital), educational multimedia and face-to-face educational game on seventh grade English language learning. JETL. 2016;11(3):79-98. doi: 10.22054/jti.2020.48100.1290.
  9. Safaee Movahed S, Rikhtegarzadeh SM, Jaques PA. The Effect of Gamification on Employee Motivation and Learning at Cooperative Management Training Course in Tehran Pars Oil and Gas Company. Q J Train Dev Hum Resour. 2018;16(5):79-96. http://istd.saminatech.ir/Article/30440.
  10. Dehghanzadeh H, Fardaanesh H, Talaa’ee E, Haatami J. Effectiveness of gamification-based E-Learning environment on Students' Academic Engagement in English Language Learning. Stud Learn Instr. 2020;12(1):295-277. doi: 10.22099/JSLI.2020.5827.
  11. Smiderle R, Rigo SJ, Marques LB, de Miranda Coelho JAP, Jaques PA. The impact of gamification on students' learning, engagement, and behavior based on their personality traits. Smart Learn Environ. 2020;7(1):1-11. doi:10.1186/s40561-019-0098-x.
  12. Saran M, Al-Magsoosi D, Mohammed D. Gamification in e-learning: the effect on student performance. 2018. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329415817.
  13. Arabsaeedi, G., Hemmati, F., Takallo, F. The Effect of Two Online Versions of Etymological and Nonetymological-based Games on Vocabulary Learning and Retention of Iranian Language Learners: An Educational Intervention. IJVLMS, 2023;14(2):108-119. doi: 10.30476/ijvlms.2023.95432.1159.
  14. Romero Rodríguez L. Engaging future engineers: the case study of a serious game implementation. Educ Inf Technol. 2023;28(3):2909-2939. doi: 10.1007/s10639-022-11279-y.
  15. Nicholson S. A recipe for meaningful gamification. In: Deterding S, Khaled R, Nacke L, Dixon D, editors. Gamification in education and business. Cham: Springer; 2015. p. 1-20. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-10208-5_1.
  16. Wiggins BE. An overview and study on the use of games, simulations, and gamification in higher education. Int J Game-Based Learn. 2016;6(1):18-29. doi:10.4018/IJGBL.2016010102.
  17. Prensky M. Engage me or enrage me. Educause Review. 2005 Sep;40(5):61-4. doi:10.2968/061005016.
  18. Simões J, Redondo RD, Vilas AF. A social gamification framework for a K-6 learning platform. Comput Human Behav. 2013;29(2):345-353. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2012.06.007.
  19. Rostaminezad, M., Ajam, A., Zabet, H. Effectiveness of humorous electronic content on the learning and retention of math on fifth-grade students. TEJ, 2019;14(1):75-83. doi: 10.22061/jte.2018.4034.1982.
  20. Clark RC, Mayer RE. E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning. San Francisco: John Wiley and Sons; 2016. doi:10.1002/9781119239086.
  21. Armier Jr DD, Shepherd CE, Skrabut S. Using game elements to increase student engagement in course assignments. Coll Teach. 2016;64(2):64-72. doi:10.1080/87567555.2015.1094439.
  22. Kapp KM. The gamification of learning and instruction: game-based methods and strategies for training and education. San Francisco: John Wiley and Sons; 2012. doi:10.1145/2207270.2211316.
  23. Ferster, C. B., Skinner, B. F. Schedules of reinforcement. Appleton-Century-Crofts; 1957. doi: 10.1037/10627-000.
  24. Howard-Jones PA, Demetriou S. Uncertainty and engagement with learning games. Instr Sci. 2009;37(6):519-536. doi:10.1007/s11251-008-9073-6.
  25. Cohen, Jacob. Statistical power analysis. Current directions in psychological science, 1992, 1.3: 98-101.‏ doi:10.1111/1467-8721.ep10768783.
  26. Sepehr S, Head M. Competition as an Element of Gamification for Learning: An Exploratory Longitudinal Investigation. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series; October 2 - 4, 2013; Toronto, Canada. Association for Computing Machinery: New York, United States; 2013. P. 2 - 9. doi: 10.1145/2583008.2583009.
  27. Yang Cao, Shao-Ying Gong, Yan-Qing Wang, Quan Zheng, Zhen Wang. How to Provide Competitors in Educational Gamification: The Roles of Competitor Level and Autonomous Choice. Computers in Human Behavior. 2023;138(3). doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107477.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics