Gamifying Gamification in the Sociology Classroom

Gamifying Gamification in  the Sociology Classroom

Gamifying Gamification in  the Sociology Classroom

Brandon Folse, Frederick J. Poole

Abstract

"The increasing ubiquity of gamification in everyday life normalizes it as a motivational tool. While much  scholarship supports gamification, labor sociologists have long problematized the phenomenon. In this  mixed-methods action research study, we explore the results of gamifying a lesson on gamification in  a sociology of work course. We designed two gamified activities with varying degrees of consent that  followed a lesson on gamification and consent. Students rated how problematic a series of gamified work  scenarios were before and after the intervention. Our quantitative data did not show a significant increase  in students’ ability to identify consent after the intervention, but we did discover that students took either  an employee or employer’s perspective in their rating justifications. Furthermore, these findings were  gendered. This article highlights the need for a more critical take on gamification in the classroom. We  conclude by suggesting ways practitioners can teach about gamification in other contexts."

Reference

Folse, B., & Poole, F. J. (2024). Gamifying gamification in the sociology classroom. Sociological Perspectives, 67(3), 423-444. https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X231175176

Keywords

Gamification, Consent, Gender