The impact of peer competition and collaboration on gamifed learning performance in educational settings: a Meta-analytical study

The impact of peer competition and collaboration on gamifed learning performance in educational settings: a Meta-analytical study

The impact of peer competition and collaboration on gamifed learning performance in educational settings: a Meta-analytical study

By Jana Chi‐San Ho, Yu‐Sheng Hung and Letty Y.‐Y. Kwan

Abstract

“This study is a meta-analytical study that examines the effectiveness of gamification in learning performance in educational settings (n=29; year-span=2011–2019). Specifically, it aimed to investigate (a) whether gamification could improve learning performance, and (b) whether peer interaction (i.e., peer competition andpeer collaboration) moderated the effectiveness of gamification in learning performance. Results from random-effects models showed significant effects of gamification in learning performance (g =.595, 95% CI [.432, .758], N =3515). Thiseffect remained robust after excluding outliers and was stable in a sub-split analysis that excludes studies with low methodological rigor (i.e., studies with pre-posttest design). Subgroup analyses revealed a moderating effect of peer competition ingamification in learning, suggesting that competitive games were better than non-competitive games for promoting learning performance in educational settings. However, this effect was not robust and no evidence of subgroup differences were found in the sub-split analysis. Peer collaboration did not moderate the effectiveness of gamification in learning as no subgroup differences were found between collaborative games and non-collaborative games. The effectiveness of games that wereboth competitive and collaborative did not differ from those that were only competitive. Other moderators such as education level and research design were also investigated. No subgroup differences were found for these two moderators. Educationalimplications and limitations were further discussed.”

Reference

Ho, J. C., Hung, Y., & Kwan, L. Y. (2021). The impact of Peer Competition and collaboration on gamified learning performance in educational settings: A Meta-analytical study. Education and Information Technologies. doi:10.1007/s10639-021-10770-2 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10639-021-10770-2

Keyword

Gamification, learning performance, educational settings, meta-analysis, collaboration, competition, research