Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

International Conference on Software Process Improvement

CIMPS 2019: Trends and Applications in Software Engineering pp 116–128Cite as

Gamification in Software Engineering: A Tertiary Study

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1071))

Abstract

Gamification is a research area that influences the extent to which software organizations work and educational practices can be improved in software engineering (SE). Given that several systematic reviews on gamification in SE have been published, this paper aims at understanding how gamification has been addressed, simultaneously identifying its impact on SE. As a result of this systematic mapping, we identified 12 secondary studies. The majority of papers reported the usage of points, badges, and leaderboards as game elements in software engineering process, software engineering methods and tools, and software engineering management. Although secondary studies reported a positive impact of gamification, more empirical research is required. In a nutshell, current research focuses on the feasibility of using gamification in different SE areas; however, there is a need for research of application context and for defining variables under study to carry out more sound empirical research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Deterding, S., Dixon, D., Khaled, R., Nacke, L.: From game design elements to gamefulness: defining gamification. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments, pp. 9–15. ACM (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hamari, J., Koivisto, J., Sarsa, H.: Does gamification work?–A literature review of empirical studies on gamification. In: 2014 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), pp. 3025–3034. IEEE (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Pedreira, O., García, F., Brisaboa, N., Piattini, M.: Gamification in software engineering–A systematic mapping. Inf. Softw. Technol. 57, 157–168 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Souza, M.R.A., Veado, L., Moreira, R.T., Figueiredo, E., Costa, H.: A systematic mapping study on game-related methods for software engineering education. Inf. Softw. Technol. 95, 201–218 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Alhammad, M.M., Moreno, A.M.: Gamification in software engineering education: a systematic mapping. J. Syst. Softw. 141, 131–150 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Dicheva, D., Dichev, C., Agre, G., Angelova, G.: Gamification in education: a systematic mapping study. J. Educ. Technol. Soc. 18(3), 75–88 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Helmefalk, M.: An interdisciplinary perspective on gamification: mechanics, psychological mediators and outcomes. Int. J. Serious Games 6(1), 3–26 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Nacke, L.E., Deterding, C.S.: The maturing of gamification research. Comput. Hum. Behav. 71, 450–454 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kitchenham, B., Charters, S.: Guidelines for performing systematic literature reviews in software engineering. In: Technical report EBSE-2007-01 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Garousi, V., Mantyla, M.V.: A systematic literature review of literature reviews in software testing. Inf. Softw. Technol. 80, 195–216 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Rios, N., Neto, M.G.M., Spínola, R.O.: A tertiary study on technical debt: types, management strategies, research trends, and base information for practitioners. Inf. Softw. Technol. 102, 117–145 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Petersen, K., Feldt, R., Mujtaba, S., Mattsson, M.: Systematic mapping studies in software engineering. In: EASE 2008, pp. 1–10. BCS eWIC (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Budgen, D., Brereton, P., Drummond, S., Williams, N.: Reporting systematic reviews: some lessons form a tertiary study. Inf. Softw. Technol. 95, 62–74 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bourque, P., Fairley, R.E.: Guide to the software engineering body of knowledge (SWEBOK(r)): version 3.0. IEEE Computer Society (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  15. García-Mireles, G.A., Moraga, M.A., García, F., Piattini, M.: Approaches to promote product quality within software process improvement initiatives: a mapping study. J. Syst. Softw. 103, 150–166 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Vargas-Enriquez, J., Garcia-Mundo, L., Genero, M., Piattini, M.: A systematic mapping study on gamified software quality. In: 7th International Conference on Games and Virtual Worlds for Serious Applications (VS-Games), pp. 1–8 IEEE (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Petersen, K., Vakkalanka, S., Kuzniarz, L.: Guidelines for conducting systematic mapping studies in software engineering: an update. Inf. Softw. Technol. 64, 1–18 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Cruzes, D., Dyba, T.: Research synthesis in software engineering: a tertiary study. Inf. Softw. Technol. 53, 440–455 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wieringa, R., Maiden, N., Mead, N., Rolland, C.: Requirements engineering paper classification and evaluation criteria: a proposal and discussion. Requir. Eng. 11, 102–107 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kitchenham, B., Brereton, P.: A systematic review of systematic review process research in software engineering. Inf. Softw. Technol. 55(12), 2049–2075 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Machuca-Villegas, L., Gasca-Hurtado, G.P.: Gamification for improving software project management processes: a systematic literature review. In: Mejia, J., Muñoz, M., Rocha, Á., Peña, A., Pérez-Cisneros, M. (eds.) Trends and Applications in Software Engineering. CIMPS 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol. 865, pp. 41–54. Springer, Cham (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cursino, R., Ferreira, D., Lencastre, M., Fagundes, R., Pimentel, J.: Gamification in requirements engineering: a systematic review. In: 11th International Conference on the Quality of Information and Communications Technology (QUATIC), pp. 119–125. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Azouz, O., Lefdaoui, Y.: Gamification design frameworks: a systematic mapping study. In: 2018 6th International Conference on Multimedia Computing and Systems (ICMCS), pp. 1–9. IEEE (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  24. de Jesus, G.M., Ferrari, F.C., de Paula Porto, D., Fabbri, S.C.P.F.: Gamification in software testing: a characterization study. In: Proceedings of the III Brazilian Symposium on Systematic and Automated Software Testing, pp. 39–48. ACM (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Trinidad, M., Calderón, A., Ruiz, M.: A systematic literature review on the gamification monitoring phase: how SPI standards can contribute to gamification maturity. In: Stamelos, I., O’Connor, R., Rout, T., Dorling, A. (eds.). Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination. SPICE 2018. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 918, pp. 31–44. Springer, Cham (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gómez-Álvarez, M.C., Gasca-Hurtado, G.P., Hincapié, J.A.: Gamification as strategy for software process improvement: a systematic mapping. In: 2017 12th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI), pp. 1–7. IEEE (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hernández, L., Muñoz, M., Mejía, J., Peña, A., Rangel, N., Torres, C.: Una Revisión Sistemática de la Literatura Enfocada en el uso de Gamificación en Equipos de Trabajo en la Ingeniería de Software. RISTI - Revista Ibérica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informação 21, 33–50 (2017). https://dx.doi.org/10.17013/risti.21.33-50

  28. Olgun, S., Yilmaz, M., Clarke, P.M., O’Connor, R.V.: A systematic investigation into the use of game elements in the context of software business landscapes: a systematic literature review. In: Mas, A., Mesquida, A., O’Connor, R., Rout, T., Dorling, A. (eds.) Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination. SPICE 2017. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 770, pp. 384–398. Springer, Cham (2017)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Matemáticas, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

    Gabriel Alberto García-Mireles

  2. Computer Science and Software Engineering Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Miguel Ehécatl Morales-Trujillo

Authors
  1. Gabriel Alberto García-Mireles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Miguel Ehécatl Morales-Trujillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriel Alberto García-Mireles .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Zacatecas, Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico

    Jezreel Mejia

  2. Unidad Zacatecas, Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas A.C, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico

    Mirna Muñoz

  3. Departamento de Engenharia Informática, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Álvaro Rocha

  4. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Informáticos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Jose A. Calvo-Manzano

Appendix A: Selected Secondary Studies

Appendix A: Selected Secondary Studies

The list of selected secondary studies included in this Section depicts the study id, the reference, publishing year, venue, software engineering knowledge area (SE KA) and the number of primary studies reported.

sID

Year

Venue

SE KA

Primary papers

S01 [21]

2019

Conference

SE Management

49

S02 [22]

2018

Conference

Software Requirements

8

S03 [23]

2018

Conference

SE Models and Methods

58

S04 [24]

2018

Conference

Software Testing

15

S05 [5]

2018

Journal

SE Process

21

S06 [4]

2018

Journal

Engineering Foundations

156 (10 papers address gamification)

S07 [25]

2018

Conference

SE Models and Methods

2

S08 [26]

2017

Conference

SE Process

13

S09 [27]

2017

Journal

SE Management

31

S10 [28]

2017

Conference

SE Process

12

S11 [16]

2015

Conference

Software Quality

35

S12 [3]

2015

Journal

SE Process

29

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

García-Mireles, G.A., Morales-Trujillo, M.E. (2020). Gamification in Software Engineering: A Tertiary Study. In: Mejia, J., Muñoz, M., Rocha, Á., A. Calvo-Manzano, J. (eds) Trends and Applications in Software Engineering. CIMPS 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1071. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33547-2_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation