• A
  • A
  • A
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
Regular version of the site

Efficiency of Gamification for Health Lifestyle Promotion

Student: Gracheva Galina

Supervisor: Aigul M. Klimova

Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences

Educational Programme: Complex Social Analysis (Master)

Year of Graduation: 2020

Gamification can help promote a healthy lifestyle by engaging and motivating mobile app users to exercise. Gamification is defined as a concept based on the application of game mechanics, methods, principles, and techniques to non-game activities. The purpose of the master's thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness of gamification in mobile applications to promote a healthy lifestyle. The paper analyzes in detail the terms "gamification" and "healthy lifestyle", identifies criteria for determining the effectiveness of gamification, describes motivating ways to use gamification in applications, analyzes the effectiveness of gamification in mobile fitness applications, and identifies aspects of gamification that lead to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The study was conducted using a qualitative method using a semi-structured interview. The sample size was 16 informants. Taking into account the literature read, a classification of gamification elements was compiled, which included 4 categories: communication, competition, goal setting, and bonuses. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the most motivating category of gamified elements for users was the goal setting category. This category includes elements such as levels and feedback. It is concluded that in the developed classification of gamified applications, it is necessary to add photos to the goal-setting category. This is explained by the fact that photos can motivate novice users and maintain the involvement of those who have been engaged for a long time. The paper offers some recommendations for using gamified elements in mobile fitness apps: convert levels in the app – think through a soft transition from easy to difficult, and also make it possible to coordinate the increase in load with the user; include "like" in the fitness app for the training program; maintain the confidentiality of user photos.

Student Theses at HSE must be completed in accordance with the University Rules and regulations specified by each educational programme.

Summaries of all theses must be published and made freely available on the HSE website.

The full text of a thesis can be published in open access on the HSE website only if the authoring student (copyright holder) agrees, or, if the thesis was written by a team of students, if all the co-authors (copyright holders) agree. After a thesis is published on the HSE website, it obtains the status of an online publication.

Student theses are objects of copyright and their use is subject to limitations in accordance with the Russian Federation’s law on intellectual property.

In the event that a thesis is quoted or otherwise used, reference to the author’s name and the source of quotation is required.

Search all student theses