Gamification. using game-design elements in non-gaming contexts

Deterding, Sebastian; Sicart, Miguel; Nacke, Lennart; O'Hara, Kenton; Dixon, Dan

doi:10.1145/1979742.1979575

Cited by 2,413Educational Games and GamificationInnovative Human-Technology InteractionDigital Games and Media

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 25 of the 25 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Gamification. using game-design elements in non-gaming contexts

Deterding, Sebastian, Sicart, Miguel, Nacke, Lennart, O'Hara, Kenton, Dixon, Dan·2011·CHI '11 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems

DOI 10.1145/1979742.1979575

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

"Gamification" is an informal umbrella term for the use of video game elements in non-gaming systems to improve user experience (UX) and user engagement. The recent introduction of 'gamified' applications to large audiences promises new additions to the existing rich and diverse research on the heuristics, design patterns and dynamics of games and the positive UX they provide. However, what is lacking for a next step forward is the integration of this precise diversity of research endeavors. Therefore, this workshop brings together practitioners and researchers to develop a shared understanding of existing approaches and findings around the gamification of information systems, and identify key synergies, opportunities, and questions for future research.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1145/1979742.1979575

Cites

25 of 25 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

The use of game elements in online learning environments is said to foster students' motivation and to achieve changes in students' learning behavior.
“The use of game elements in online learning environments is said to foster students' motivation and to achieve changes in students' learning behavior (Deterding et al., 2011;Kapp, 2012;Werbach & Hunter, 2012).”
From Online learning readiness and attitudes towards gaming in gamified online learning – a mixed methods case study (2018) · cites this paper as Deterding et al., 2011

The motivational pull of video games: a self-determination theory approach
Ryan, R. M., Rigby, C. S., & Przybylski, A. (2006) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-006-9051-8 · Cited by 3,332
Reality is Broken Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
(2012) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.49-6095 · Cited by 2,933
Untitled work
Sweetser (2005) · doi:10.1145/1077246.1077253 · Cited by 2,124
Designing games with a purpose
von Ahn, L., & Dabbish, L. (2008) · Communications of the ACM · doi:10.1145/1378704.1378719 · Cited by 1,186
What makes things fun to learn? heuristics for designing instructional computer games
Malone, T. W. (1980) · Proceedings of the 3rd ACM SIGSMALL symposium and the first SIGPC symposium on Small systems - SIGSMALL '80 · doi:10.1145/800088.802839 · Cited by 758
Funology 2
(2018) · Human-computer interaction series · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-68213-6 · Cited by 561
Using Social Psychology to Motivate Contributions to Online Communities
Ling, K. S., Beenen, G., Ludford, P. J., Wang, X., Chang, K., Li, X., Cosley, D., Frankowski, D., Terveen, L., Rashid, A. M., et al. (2005) · Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication · doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2005.tb00273.x · Cited by 501
Heuristics for designing enjoyable user interfaces
Malone, T. W. (1982) · ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) · doi:10.1145/800049.801756 · Cited by 453
The design with intent method: A design tool for influencing user behaviour
Lockton, D., Harrison, D., & Stanton, N. A. (2010) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2009.09.001 · Cited by 419
Total engagement: using games and virtual worlds to change the way people work and businesses compete
(2010) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.47-4510 · Cited by 406
Enhancing the Motivational Affordance of Information Systems: The Effects of Real-Time Performance Feedback and Goal Setting in Group Collaboration Environments
Jung, J. H., Schneider, C., & Valacich, J. S. (2010) · Management Science · doi:10.1287/mnsc.1090.1129 · Cited by 357
Technical opinionMotivational affordances
Zhang, P. (2008) · Communications of the ACM · doi:10.1145/1400214.1400244 · Cited by 354
Heuristics for designing enjoyable user interfaces: lessons from computer games
Malone, T. W. (1984) · Ablex Publishing Corp. eBooks · Cited by 262
Game-Based Marketing: Inspire Customer Loyalty Through Rewards, Challenges, and Contests
O’Donohoe, S., & Vedrashko, I. (2011) · International Journal of Advertising · doi:10.2501/ija-30-1-189-190 · Cited by 247
Video game values: Human–computer interaction and games
Barr, P., Noble, J., & Biddle, R. (2006) · Interacting with Computers · doi:10.1016/j.intcom.2006.08.008 · Cited by 226
Motivating participation by displaying the value of contribution
Rashid, A. M., Ling, K. S., Tassone, R. D., Resnick, P., Kraut, R. E., & Riedl, J. (2006) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/1124772.1124915 · Cited by 205
People, places, and play
de Kort, Y. A. W., & IJsselsteijn, W. A. (2008) · Computers in entertainment · doi:10.1145/1371216.1371221 · Cited by 187
Game-Based Marketing: Inspire Customer Loyalty Through Rewards, Challenges, and Contests
Linder, I. G. Z. I. J. (2010) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 164
Funology
Monk, A. F., Hassenzahl, M., Blythe, M., & Reed, D. (2002) · CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) · doi:10.1145/506443.506661 · Cited by 106
Evaluating User Experience in Games: Concepts and Methods
Bernhaupt, R. (2010) · Human-computer interaction series · doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-963-3 · Cited by 101
Game-based marketing inspire customer loyalty through rewards, challenges, and contests
Zichermann, G., & Linder, J. (2010) · Cited by 78
User Experience Evaluation in Entertainment
Bernhaupt, R. (2009) · Human-computer interaction series · doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-963-3_1 · Cited by 73
Funology 2 from usability to enjoyment
Blythe, M., Monk, A. F., & Publishing, S. I. (2004) · Cited by 71
Heuristic Evaluation of Games
Isbister, K., & Schaffer, N. (2008) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374447-0.00006-8 · Cited by 21
Captivating Patterns – A First Validation
Niebuhr, S., & Kerkow, D. (2007) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-540-77006-0_6 · Cited by 10

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

Fogg , B.J. Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do. Morgan Kaufmann , Amsterdam et al , 2002 . Fogg, B.J. Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do. Morgan Kaufmann, Amsterdam et al, 2002.
10.5555/1780402.1780410 · DOI

Sorted by citations

From game design elements to gamefulness: defining "gamification"
Deterding, S., Dixon, D., Khaled, R., & Nacke, L. (2011) · Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments · doi:10.1145/2181037.2181040 · Cited by 8,402
Self-citation
Gamification in theory and action: a survey
Seaborn, K., & Fels, D. I. (2015) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2014.09.006 · Cited by 2,515
Assessing the effects of gamification in the classroom: A longitudinal study on intrinsic motivation, social comparison, satisfaction, effort, and academic performance
Hanus, M. D., & Fox, J. (2015) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2014.08.019 · Cited by 1,918
Towards understanding the effects of individual gamification elements on intrinsic motivation and performance
Mekler, E. D., Brühlmann, F., Tuch, A. N., & Opwis, K. (2017) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.08.048 · Cited by 990
Are Health Behavior Change Interventions That Use Online Social Networks Effective? A Systematic Review
Maher, C. A., Lewis, L. K., Ferrar, K., Marshall, S., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Vandelanotte, C. (2014) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.2952 · Cited by 733
Students’ perception of Kahoot!’s influence on teaching and learning
Licorish, S. A., Owen, H. E., Daniel, B., & George, J. L. (2018) · Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning · doi:10.1186/s41039-018-0078-8 · Cited by 521
Augmented Reality and Gamification in Education: A Systematic Literature Review of Research, Applications, and Empirical Studies
Lampropoulos, G., Keramopoulos, E., Diamantaras, K., & Evangelidis, G. (2022) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app12136809 · Cited by 462
‘Gamification’: Influencing health behaviours with games
King, D., Greaves, F., Exeter, C., & Darzi, A. (2013) · Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine · doi:10.1177/0141076813480996 · Cited by 319
Do points, levels and leaderboards harm intrinsic motivation?: an empirical analysis of common gamification elements
Mekler, E. D., Brühlmann, F., Opwis, K., & Tuch, A. N. (2013) · Proceedings of the First International Conference on Gameful Design, Research, and Applications · doi:10.1145/2583008.2583017 · Cited by 314
The effect of social support features and gamification on a Web-based intervention for rheumatoid arthritis patients: randomized controlled trial
Allam, A., Kostova, Z., Nakamoto, K., & Schulz, P. J. (2015) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.3510 · Cited by 274
Deconstructing gamification: evaluating the effectiveness of continuous measurement, virtual rewards, and social comparison for promoting physical activity
Zuckerman, O., & Gal-Oz, A. (2014) · Personal and Ubiquitous Computing · doi:10.1007/s00779-014-0783-2 · Cited by 273
Increasing Student Intrinsic Motivation And Self-Efficacy Through Gamification Pedagogy
Banfield, J., & Wilkerson, B. (2014) · Contemporary Issues in Education Research (CIER) · doi:10.19030/cier.v7i4.8843 · Cited by 258
How feedback boosts motivation and play in a brain-training game
Burgers, C., Eden, A., van Engelenburg, M. D., & Buningh, S. (2015) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.01.038 · Cited by 245
Medication Adherence Apps: Review and Content Analysis
Ahmed, I., Ahmad, N. S., Ali, S., Ali, S., George, A., Saleem Danish, H., Uppal, E., Soo, J., Mobasheri, M. H., King, D., et al. (2018) · JMIR mHealth and uHealth · doi:10.2196/mhealth.6432 · Cited by 221
Engagement with online mental health interventions: an exploratory clinical study of a treatment for depression
Doherty, G., Coyle, D., & Sharry, J. (2012) · Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/2207676.2208602 · Cited by 198
Designing gamification: creating gameful and playful experiences
Deterding, S., Björk, S. L., Nacke, L. E., Dixon, D., & Lawley, E. (2013) · CHI '13 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/2468356.2479662 · Cited by 192
Self-citation
When computers take the lead: The automation of leadership
Wesche, J. S., & Sonderegger, A. (2019) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2019.07.027 · Cited by 157
Online learning readiness and attitudes towards gaming in gamified online learning – a mixed methods case study
Bovermann, K., Weidlich, J., & Bastiaens, T. (2018) · International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education · doi:10.1186/s41239-018-0107-0 · Cited by 139
Empowering the faculty of education students: Applying AI’s potential for motivating and enhancing learning
Mohamed, A. M., Shaaban, T. S., Bakry, S. H., Guillén-Gámez, F. D., & Strzelecki, A. (2025) · Innovative Higher Education · doi:10.1007/s10755-024-09747-z · Cited by 115
Effects of gamification on participation and data quality in a real-world market research domain
Cechanowicz, J., Gutwin, C., Brownell, B., & Goodfellow, L. (2013) · Proceedings of the First International Conference on Gameful Design, Research, and Applications · doi:10.1145/2583008.2583016 · Cited by 103
How gamification boosts learning in STEM higher education: a mixed methods study
Ortiz-Rojas, M., Chiluiza, K., Valcke, M., & Bolanos-Mendoza, C. (2025) · International Journal of STEM Education · doi:10.1186/s40594-024-00521-3 · Cited by 71
Competing or aiming to be average?: normification as a means of engaging digital volunteers
Preist, C., Massung, E., & Coyle, D. (2014) · Proceedings of the 17th ACM conference on Computer supported cooperative work & social computing · doi:10.1145/2531602.2531615 · Cited by 65
How has gamification within digital platforms affected self-regulated learning skills during the COVID-19 pandemic? Mixed-methods research
Alhalafawy, W. S., & Tawfiq Zaki, M. Z. (2022) · International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET) · doi:10.3991/ijet.v17i06.28885 · Cited by 69
Mobile apps for speech-language therapy in adults with communication disorders: review of content and quality
Vaezipour, A., Campbell, J., Theodoros, D., & Russell, T. (2020) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/18858 · Cited by 65
The impact of gamification on students learning engagement
Khaleel, F. L., Ashaari, N. S., & Tengku Wook, T. S. M. (2020) · International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) · doi:10.11591/ijece.v10i5.pp4965-4972 · Cited by 64
A Smartphone App for Adolescents With Sleep Disturbance: Development of the Sleep Ninja
Werner-Seidler, A., O'Dea, B., Shand, F., Johnston, L., Frayne, A., Fogarty, A. S., & Christensen, H. (2017) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/mental.7614 · Cited by 64
Towards a gamification of industrial production: a comparative study in sheltered work environments
Korn, O., Funk, M., & Schmidt, A. (2015) · Proceedings of the 7th ACM SIGCHI Symposium on Engineering Interactive Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/2774225.2774834 · Cited by 64
A Review of Gamification Impact on Student Behavioural and Learning Outcomes
Nurtanto, M., Kholifah, N., Ahdhianto, E., Samsudin, A., & Isnantyo, F. D. (2021) · International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM) · doi:10.3991/ijim.v15i21.24381 · Cited by 59
A Gamified Smartphone-Based Intervention for Depression: Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Lukas, C. A., Eskofier, B., & Berking, M. (2021) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/16643 · Cited by 49
The affiliation between student achievement and elements of gamification in learning science
Sanmugam, M., Abdullah, Z., Mohamed, H., Aris, B., Zaid, N. M., & Suhadi, S. M. (2016) · 2016 4th International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICoICT) · doi:10.1109/icoict.2016.7571962 · Cited by 28
Towards large scale evaluation of novel sonification techniques for non visual shape exploration.
Gerino, A., Picinali, L., Bernareggi, C., Alabastro, N., & Mascetti, S. (2015) · Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility - ASSETS '15 · doi:10.1145/2700648.2809848 · Cited by 22
Gamified Mobile Applications for Improving Driving Behavior: A Systematic Mapping Study
El hafidy, A., Rachad, T., Idri, A., & Zellou, A. (2021) · Mobile Information Systems · doi:10.1155/2021/6677075 · Cited by 21
EducaTableware: Sound Emitting Tableware for Encouraging Dietary Education
Kadomura, A., Tsukada, K., & Siio, I. (2014) · Journal of Information Processing · doi:10.2197/ipsjjip.22.325 · Cited by 12
How does the Mechanics of Competition and Collaboration Impact on Student’s Flow Experience in a Gamified Educational Environment? An Experimental Study in Higher Education (under review)
Marinho, A., Bittencourt, I. I., Dermeval, D., Santos, J., Challco, G., & Reis, M. (2025) · Technology, Knowledge and Learning · doi:10.1007/s10758-024-09796-5 · Cited by 5
Experimenting with Model Solutions as a Support Mechanism
Nygren, H., Leinonen, J., Pirttinen, N., Leinonen, A., & Hellas, A. (2019) · Proceedings of the 1st UK & Ireland Computing Education Research Conference on - UKICER · doi:10.1145/3351287.3351288 · Cited by 4
A Privacy-Preserving Architecture for the Protection of Adolescents in Online Social Networks
Charalambous, M., Papagiannis, P., Papasavva, A., Leonidou, P., Constaninou, R., Terzidou, L., Christophides, T., Nicolaou, P., Theofanis, O., Kalatzantonakis, G., et al. (2020) · arXiv · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2007.12038 · Cited by 4

Authors: Deterding, S., Sicart, M., Nacke, L., O'Hara, K., & Dixon, D.
Affiliations: Universität Hamburg (DE)
IT University of Copenhagen (DK)
University of Saskatchewan (CA)
Microsoft Research (United Kingdom) (GB)
University of the West of England (GB)
ORCID: Deterding, Sebastian
Sicart, Miguel
Nacke, Lennart
O'Hara, Kenton
Venue: CHI '11 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Publisher: ACM
Published: 2011-05-07
Pages: 2425-2428
DOI: 10.1145/1979742.1979575
OpenAlex: W2049080106
Cited by: 2,413
References: 25
Citations by year: 2026: 78 · 2025: 144 · 2024: 171 · 2023: 195 · 2022: 225 · 2021: 224 · 2020: 198 · 2019: 205 · 2018: 168 · 2017: 176 · 2016: 148 · 2015: 171 · 2014: 150 · 2013: 104 · 2012: 42
FWCI: 255.79
Type: conference paper
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.acm.org/publications/policies/copyright_policy#Background (vor)
Locations: CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Games and Media
Keywords: gamification, game elements, user engagement, user experience, gamified applications, information systems, game dynamics, game design patterns

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Gamification. using game-design elements in non-gaming contexts

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks