Abstract
We investigated whether the presence of explicit instantaneous positive feedback in video games might facilitate intrinsic motivation for and performance on a subsequent unrelated cognitive task. We hypothesized that the experience of flow, which would be facilitated by the instantaneous positive feedback during gaming, would facilitate positive motivational spillover on the subsequent cognitive task. We used an experimental design manipulating the instantaneous positive feedback during the game (n = 77 and n = 86 college students for the control and the experimental groups, respectively) and estimated a structural equation model. Controlling gender, prior gaming experience, and trait intrinsic motivation, the average level of flow for the participants who received instantaneous positive feedback was significantly higher than the others. Flow, in turn, positively and significantly predicted the performance and state intrinsic motivation for the cognitive task. Our findings pointed to a motivational spillover process initiated by the affective experience during video gaming.
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We define “instantaneous positive feedback” as the feedback that directs effort rather than the outcome. Game elements that allow the player to track their progress and inform their behavior during the game (e.g., real time game points, leader boards or virtual awards) are examples of instantaneous positive feedback. Information regarding the completed game level or the total points accumulated at the end of the game constitute immediate feedback but they provide information on the recently completed performance (i.e. outcome) without informing the player during the task.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge generous support from Koc University and from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey with 2211 National Graduate Scholarship Program. We thank undergraduate research assistants (Aysesu Oruc, Can Umut Tas, Ceylan Aksoy, Erkin Basar, Irem Tuncer, Onur Akin, Yasemin Derme) for their help in overseeing the lab procedures.
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The research question and the conceptualization of the study was done by NB, BT, and MG, with substantial guidance from ZC. Study design and the development of measures were completed by GS who also completed data collection with assistance from MG, BT and a team of volunteer students in research labs. Data were analyzed by NB and MG. ZC reviewed and contributed to the manuscript that was drafted by NB, MG and BT.
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Baydar, N., Guler, M., Tatar, B. et al. The motivational spillover of instantaneous positive feedback in video games on subsequent cognitive tasks. Motiv Emot 47, 165–176 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-022-09978-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-022-09978-7