Gamification in sport apps: the determinants of users' motivation

PurposeGamification is a tool with great potential to motivate individuals to increase their physical activity. That is why sport apps for mobile devices, such as Nike+ or Strava, have integrated game elements. There is, however, little evidence of gamification's effectiveness in this field. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of management and business economics 2020-10, Vol.29 (3), p.365-381
Main Authors: Bitrián, Paula, Buil, Isabel, Catalán, Sara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autonomy
Behavior
Competence
Design
Exercise
Games
Gamification
Mobile phones
Motivation
Physical activity
Physical fitness
Psychological needs
Relatedness
Self determination
Software
Sports
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Summary:PurposeGamification is a tool with great potential to motivate individuals to increase their physical activity. That is why sport apps for mobile devices, such as Nike+ or Strava, have integrated game elements. There is, however, little evidence of gamification's effectiveness in this field. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of game elements included in gamified sports' apps on the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (i.e. competence, autonomy and relatedness). Similarly, the research analyzes the impact of these needs on autonomous motivation.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve these goals, data were collected from users of gamified sport apps, using an online questionnaire. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results showed that interaction in the app with achievement-related game elements satisfied the needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness; social-related elements satisfied the need for relatedness; and immersion-related elements satisfied the needs for competence and autonomy. Similarly, satisfaction of the needs for autonomy and relatedness while using the app is crucial to experience autonomous motivation.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide guidelines for practitioners and app developers.Originality/valueBased on self-determination theory, the paper provides new insights into the relationship between game elements included in sport apps and individuals' basic psychological needs and motivation.
ISSN:2444-8451
2444-8494
DOI:10.1108/EJMBE-09-2019-0163