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How Gamification Affects Physical Activity: Large-scale Analysis of Walking Challenges in a Mobile Application
Ali Shameli1, Tim Althoff1, Amin Saberi1
1Stanford University.
Proceedings of the ... International World-Wide Web Conference. International WWW Conference
|October 10, 2017
Summary
Gamification through walking challenges significantly boosts physical activity by 23% for average users. Competitions are most effective when participants have similar fitness levels and a balanced gender mix.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Behavioral Science
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Physical activity is crucial for health, yet understanding gamification's impact on it is limited.
- Competitions within mobile applications are a form of gamification that can influence user behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how competitions in mobile activity tracking applications affect users' physical activity levels.
- To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of gamified physical activity challenges.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nearly 2,500 walking competitions over one year, encompassing over 800,000 person-days of activity data.
- Statistical modeling to predict competition engagement based on participant characteristics.
Main Results:
- Average physical activity increased by 23% during walking competitions across diverse demographics.
- Competition effectiveness decreased significantly when participants had vastly different activity levels.
- Competitions with a balanced gender mix were more effective in increasing physical activity.
Conclusions:
- Gamified walking competitions are a powerful tool for increasing physical activity.
- Participant matching and composition are critical for successful and engaging activity challenges.
- Insights can guide the design of more effective gamified health interventions.
