Gamification Strategies: A Characterization Using Formal Argumentation Theory

Writers: Esteban Guerrero & Panu Kalmi
Springer Link SN Computer Science

Article

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42979-022-01164-3

Abstract

Gamified software applications are omnipresent in everyday life. The idea of using game design elements in non-game contexts to engage and motivate tasks has rapidly gained traction in the human–computer interaction and the psychology fields, but scarcely in the artificial intelligence (AI) research area.

In this paper, we propose a software agent perspective of gamification elements to solve two specific problems: (1) a reactive perspective that gamification designers have for those gamified affordances, i.e. the visual cue (output) is only triggered by user interaction, and (2) a lack of formal treatment of gamified software, where strict characterization of software behavior as done in AI, guarantee that the information-based output follows the intended goal of the software.

Our contributions presented in this paper are (1) two taxonomies of affordances based on the type of information that every element communicates, and the type of agency that is capable; (2) a framework to formalize the decision-making process for gamified software agents; and (3) a characterization of gamified stories using formal argumentation theory dialogues.

We exemplify our contributions with two gamified platforms in the healthcare and financial literacy fields.

Keywords: metadata, behavior change system, gamification, financial literacy

Esteban Guerrero Rosero

Ph.D. in computing science

Researcher in Work Package "Game-based approaches and digital tools in financial education"

University of Vaasa, Technology and Innovations, Computer Science

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

esteban.guerrero@uwasa.fi

029 449 8648

Talouden hallinnan tärkein taito

Panu Kalmi

Ph.D., Professor

Leader in Work Package "Game-based approaches and digital tools in financial education"

University of Vaasa, School of Accounting and Finance.

Economics, financial literacy

panu.kalmi@uwasa.fi

+358 29 449 8528

Other research