Motivation in Team Exergames: Testing the Köhler Discrepancy Effect with a Software-Generated Partner During Plank...

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Exercise Science

Background:

• The Köhler effect describes motivation gains in group settings, previously applied to exergames with human partners.
• Software-generated partners (SGPs) offer adaptable exergame environments but have shown diminished motivation effects.
• Investigating SGP ability discrepancy is crucial for understanding and enhancing motivation in digital exercise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how perceived ability discrepancy of a software-generated partner (SGP) influences exercise persistence.
• To determine the optimal level of SGP ability difference for maximizing the Köhler effect in exergames.
• To extend findings from human-human partner studies to SGP interactions.

Main Methods:

• 176 college students performed abdominal plank exercises in an exergame.
• Participants exercised individually, then were randomly assigned to exercise with a low, moderate, or high ability discrepancy SGP, or alone (control).
• Exercise persistence (plank time) was measured and analyzed using ANCOVA, controlling for initial performance.

Main Results:

• No significant main effect for condition on plank persistence was found after controlling for initial performance.
• Participants in the moderate ability discrepancy SGP condition showed significantly greater plank persistence compared to the no-partner control.
• No other significant differences in persistence were observed between conditions.

Conclusions:

• A moderate perceived ability discrepancy with a superior SGP enhances motivation and persistence in exergames.
• SGPs with low or high ability discrepancies do not provide a motivation gain compared to exercising alone.
• Optimizing SGP ability relative to the user is key for leveraging the Köhler effect in digital exercise environments.