Effects of gamification on students’ online interactive patterns and peer-feedback

Abstract

Gamification offers potential for improving students’ online discussion quantity and the depth of discussion content. However, very few studies have examined the social network patterns when students are posting and providing peer-feedback to each other in gamification-based environments. In response to those gaps, this study used a learning analytics approach to understand the effects of gamification on students’ online interactive patterns, posting quantity, and peer-feedback quality. The social network analysis results showed that students in the gamification-based course had denser networks than those in the control group. More students were active in the network compared with the control group. Content analysis revealed that students provided higher quality peer-feedback than students in the control group. This study provides empirical evidence for the positive effects of gamification on students’ online interaction. Future research trends and the limitations of this study are also discussed. © 2019, © 2019 Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia, Inc.