Feltz, Deborah L., Forlenza, Samuel T., Winn, Brian, Kerr, Norbert L. (2014) Cyber Buddy is Better than No Buddy: A Test of the Köhler Motivation Effect in Exergames. Games for Health Journal, 3 (2). pp. 98-105. ISSN 2161-783X. E-ISSN 2161-7856. (doi:10.1089/g4h.2013.0088) (KAR id:41319)
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2013.0088 |
Abstract
Objective: Although exergames are popular, few people take advantage of the potential of group dynamics to
motivate play (and achieve associated health bene?ts). One motivation gain phenomenon has shown promise for
motivating greater effort in partnered exergames: The Koehler effect (working at a task with a more capable partner
where one’s performance is indispensable to the group). This article examines whether a Koehler effect can be
demonstrated in an exergame by exercising with a moderately superior humanoid, software-generated partner.
Materials and Methods: Male and female (n = 120; mean age, 19.41 years) college students completed a series
of plank exercises using ‘‘CyBuddy Exercise,’’ a program developed speci?cally for this study. In a lab in an
academic building, participants completed the exercises individually and, after a rest, were randomly assigned
to complete the same exercises again, but with a ‘‘live’’ human partner (HP) presented virtually, a nearlyhuman-like,
humanoid partner (NHP), a hardly human-like, software-generated partner (HHP), or a no-partner
control condition (IC), with equal numbers in each group (i.e., n = 30). Exercise persistence, perceived exertion,
self-ef?cacy beliefs, enjoyment, and intentions to exercise were recorded and analyzed.
Results: A 4X2 analysis of variance on the (Block 2 – Block 1) difference scores showed that a signi?cant
Koehler motivation gain was observed in all partner conditions (compared with IC), but persistence was signi?cantly
greater with HPs than with either NHP or HHP humanoid partners (P < 0.05). By the conclusion of the
study, there were no signi?cant differences among the partnered conditions in perceived exertion, self-ef?cacy,
enjoyment, or future intentions to exercise.
Conclusions: These results suggest that a software-generated partner can elicit the Koehler motivation gain in
exergames, but not as strongly as a partner who is thought to be human.
Item Type: | Article |
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DOI/Identification number: | 10.1089/g4h.2013.0088 |
Projects: | Cyber Partners: Harnessing Group Dynamics to Boost Motivation to Exercise |
Subjects: | H Social Sciences |
Divisions: | Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology |
Funders: | Organisations -1 not found. |
Depositing User: | Norbert Kerr |
Date Deposited: | 07 Jun 2014 18:58 UTC |
Last Modified: | 09 Dec 2022 05:34 UTC |
Resource URI: | https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/41319 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes) |
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