Journal article
Motivation in Team Exergames: Testing the Kohler Discrepancy Effect with a Software-Generated Partner During Plank Exercise
Games for health, v 10(1)
01 Feb 2021
PMID: 33533681
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objective: The Kohler effect is a social-psychological group motivation gain phenomenon that has been successfully adapted to video-based exercise games (exergames) using human partners. This research then shifted to using software-generated partners (SGPs), providing greater flexibility and adaptability to manipulate the game environment to be most motivating for the user. However, recent SGP-based experiments have demonstrated a diminished motivation gain effect. Extending previous work with human-human partners, this experiment varied the perceived exercise ability of the SGP as a potential motivation gain effect moderator on the participant's exercise persistence.
Materials and Methods: Male and female college students (n = 176; mean age, 21.5 years) completed two series of abdominal plank exercises using an exergame developed specifically for a previous Kohler study. Participants completed the exercises individually and, after a rest, were randomly assigned to complete the same exercises again alone or with one of three SGPs: low ability discrepancy partner (LP), moderate ability discrepancy partner (MP), and high ability discrepancy partner (HP).
Results: A 2 (sex) x 4 (condition) analysis of covariance main effect for Condition was not significant after controlling for Block 1 times (P = 0.093). However, contrast estimates of plank persistence times between the MP condition and individual no-partner control were significant, P = 0.014, 95% confidence interval [4.34-37.68]. There were no other significant condition persistence differences.
Conclusions: A moderate discrepancy between the participant and the superior nonhuman partner is more motivating in a conjunctive task paradigm than exercising alone or with an SGP that is low or high in ability discrepancy.
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Details
- Title
- Motivation in Team Exergames: Testing the Kohler Discrepancy Effect with a Software-Generated Partner During Plank Exercise
- Creators
- Stephen Samendinger - Farmingdale State CollegeMichael Bruneau - Drexel UniversityChristopher R. Hill - California State University, San BernardinoTony A. Rowe - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Games for health, v 10(1)
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
- Number of pages
- 6
- Grant note
- Drexel University Department of Health Sciences
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Digital Media; Health Sciences
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000614232700008
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85100538848
- Other Identifier
- 991019167556204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Health Policy & Services
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Rehabilitation