Mathematics education

Engineering

Neuroscience

Educational game

Social psychology

Computer science

Game based learning

Mechanical engineering

Intrinsic motivation

Psychology

Applied psychology

Work (physics)

Work motivation

Perception

Journal of Education for Business

Educational gamification is a growing field. The authors answer the following important questions: (a) To what degree does educational gamification, in general, increase students' perceived motivation in learning? (b) To what degree do specific game elements impact perceived motivation in learning? and (c) Are the benefits of gamification limited to or enhanced in participants with specific demographic characteristics? A survey of organizational behavior students' perceptions (n = 124) investigated how participating in a gamified course motivated students overall and examined the individual effect of specific game elements. Of the participants, 67.7% reported that the gamified course was more or much more motivating than a traditional course. Correlational data indicated that being a member of any measured demographic (e.g., gender, age, student status) was not a barrier to finding gamification motivating.

Does educational gamification improve students’ motivation? If so, which game elements work best?