ERIC Number: EJ1430518
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2157-2100
Available Date: N/A
Effect of Gamification on Gamers: Evaluating Interventions for Students Who Game the System
Kirk P. Vanacore; Ashish Gurung; Adam C. Sales; Neil T. Heffernan
Journal of Educational Data Mining, v16 n1 p112-140 2024
Gaming the system is a persistent problem in Computer-Based Learning Platforms. While substantial progress has been made in identifying and understanding such behaviors, effective interventions remain scarce. This study uses a method of causal moderation known as Fully Latent Principal Stratification to explore the impact of two types of interventions--gamification and manipulation of assistance access on the learning outcomes of students who tend to game the system. The results indicate that gamification does not consistently mitigate these negative behaviors. One gamified condition had a consistently positive effect on learning regardless of students' propensity to game the system, whereas the other had a negative effect on gamers. However, delaying access to hints and feedback may have a positive effect on the learning outcomes of those gaming the system. This paper also illustrates the potential for integrating detection and causal methodologies within educational data mining to evaluate effective responses to detected behaviors.
Descriptors: Gamification, Student Behavior, Computer Uses in Education, Intervention, Outcomes of Education, School Districts, Feedback (Response), Mathematics Achievement, Algebra, Mathematics Instruction, Educational Games, Instructional Design, Grade 7, Middle School Students
International Educational Data Mining. e-mail: jedm.editor@gmail.com; Web site: https://jedm.educationaldatamining.org/index.php/JEDM
Related Records: ED662747
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED); National Science Foundation (NSF); Department of Education (ED); Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) (ED), Education Innovation and Research (EIR); Office of Naval Research (ONR) (DOD); Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305D210036; R305N210049; R305D210031; R305A170137; R305A170243; R305A180401; R305A120125; R305R220012; 2118725; 2118904; 1950683; 1917808; 1931523; 1940236; 1917713; 1903304; 1822830; 1759229; 1724889; 1636782; 1535428; P200A120238; P200A180088; P200A150306; U411B190024; S411B210024; S411B220024; N000141812768; R44GM146483
Author Affiliations: N/A