Dosed Failure Increases Older Adult's Motivation for an Exergame

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Exergames offer a novel approach to promoting physical activity in older adults.
• Understanding motivational factors within exergames is crucial for sustained engagement.
• The impact of failure, particularly 'dosed failure,' on exercise adherence in older populations remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if dosed failure in an exergame enhances motivation and effort in older adults.
• To compare exercise performance between a standard exergame condition and a dosed failure condition.

Main Methods:

• A within-participants design was employed, with older adults playing an exergame under two conditions: Standard (no failure) and Dosed Failure (approximately 30% failure rate).
• Participants performed stepping movements to hit targets.
• The order of condition exposure was randomized.

Main Results:

• Participants completed significantly more repetitions in the Dosed Failure condition compared to the Standard condition.
• Play duration and subjective motivation upon quitting did not differ between the two conditions.
• Dosed failure increased objective effort (repetitions) without altering perceived engagement duration or motivation levels.

Conclusions:

• Introducing a controlled level of failure into exergames can serve as an effective motivational tool for older adults.
• Dosed failure encourages greater physical exertion in older adults during exergaming.
• This strategy enhances exercise intensity without negatively impacting overall play experience or motivation to continue.