Tackling Wheel-Spinning: The Complex Task of Measuring Persistence in Learning Games (Poster 26)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Three
  In Poster Session: Measurement Theory and Application 2

Abstract

Persistence has been considered an important non-cognitive variable that contributes to student engagement, retention, learning, and many important educational outcomes. Wheel-spinning occurs when one persists without making meaningful progress. The current definition of persistence cannot account for wheel-spinning. In our study we explore an alternative variable that may account for wheel-spinning. Using an Isolation Forest algorithm to detect anomalous individuals in terms of their duration on difficult tasks and our newly created variable, we treated outliers as more persistent and inliers as less persistent. Comparing the two groups on their learning and in-game performance using a one-way MANOVA followed by a series of one-way ANOVAs we found significant differences on in-game performances but not in learning.

Authors

• G. Curt Fulwider, Florida State University
  Presenting Author

• Zhichun Liu, University of Hong Kong
  Presenting Author

• Ginny Smith, Florida State University
  Presenting Author

• Valerie J. Shute, Florida State University
  Non-Presenting Author