The Effects of Ecological Gamification on Learners’ Engagement: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

In recent years, the personalization of gamified education has been widely discussed. However, results are still mixed (i.e., positive, negative, or null). At the same time, most studies focus on analyzing only classic gamification designs (e.g., based on points, badges, and leaderboards). To address this problem, we investigated the effects of ecological gamification on learners’ engagement according to their gamification user types. We conducted a quasi-experimental study (N = 104) using a gamified educational system and analyzing data through partial least squares structural equation modeling. The main results indicate that i) ecological gamification positively affected Disruptors’ sense of perceived usability, and ii) Players’ sense of reward. Our results contribute to the fields of educational technologies and personalized gamification, providing insights regarding the personalization of gamified education.