Fostering Psychological Need Satisfaction via Gamification: A Design-Based Research Study

• In Event: 26.076 - Teaching and Learning With Technology

Abstract

Gamification is an innovative approach, which uses game design elements in non-game contexts. This study analyzes the motivational power of gamification environments from a psychological perspective. By conducting an experimental design, effects of game design elements on the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness are investigated. The context of the study is the trainings phase of new staff in the field of intralogistics. Preliminary results show positive effects of a gamification training environment compared to a traditional direct instruction training environment regarding the feeling of competence, autonomy and relatedness. This study is part of a design-based research framework, which has the goal of filling the empirical and theoretical gap regarding psychological research on gamification.

Authors

• Michael Sailer, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

• Heinz Mandl, University of Munich