Intergroup Competition in Exergames: Further Tests of the Köhler Effect

Area of Science:

• Human-computer interaction
• Exercise psychology
• Virtual reality and gaming

Background:

• Exercise video games (exergames) offer novel ways to promote physical activity.
• Motivation in exergames can be influenced by social dynamics and competition.
• The role of software-generated partners (SGPs) in motivating users is an emerging area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of competing with a software-generated partner (SGP) against another team on individual motivation in an exergame.
• To measure changes in user effort as an indicator of motivation.
• To explore the effects of competition and partnership with an SGP on task enjoyment and team identification.

Main Methods:

• Ninety participants were randomly assigned to three conditions: individual control, partnered without competition, or partnered with competition against another human-virtual partner team.
• Participants engaged in an exergame, performing initial trials alone and subsequent trials with a same-sex SGP.
• Motivation was assessed by measuring participant effort, enjoyment, and identification with the SGP.

Main Results:

• Both partnered conditions showed a significant increase in motivation compared to the individual control group.
• Participants in the partnered-with-competition condition reported significantly higher task enjoyment than those in the other two conditions.
• Participants in the partnered-with-competition group exhibited stronger identification with their SGP as a teammate.

Conclusions:

• Intergroup competition involving a software-generated partner (SGP) can enhance motivation and enjoyment during exercise.
• SGPs can serve as effective teammates, particularly when integrated into a competitive exergame environment.
• This competitive SGP approach presents a viable strategy for improving engagement and performance in exergames.