Buddy Up for Exergames: How Group Dynamics Principles Can Be Applied to Active Health Games

Buddy Up for Exergames: How Group Dynamics Principles Can Be Applied to Active Health Games

Alison Ede, Samuel Thomas Forlenza, Deborah L. Feltz
ISBN13: 9781466695221|ISBN10: 1466695226|EISBN13: 9781466695238
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-9522-1.ch011
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MLA

Ede, Alison, et al. "Buddy Up for Exergames: How Group Dynamics Principles Can Be Applied to Active Health Games." Handbook of Research on Holistic Perspectives in Gamification for Clinical Practice, edited by Daniel Novák, et al., IGI Global, 2016, pp. 222-244. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-9522-1.ch011

APA

Ede, A., Forlenza, S. T., & Feltz, D. L. (2016). Buddy Up for Exergames: How Group Dynamics Principles Can Be Applied to Active Health Games. In D. Novák, B. Tulu, & H. Brendryen (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Holistic Perspectives in Gamification for Clinical Practice (pp. 222-244). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-9522-1.ch011

Chicago

Ede, Alison, Samuel Thomas Forlenza, and Deborah L. Feltz. "Buddy Up for Exergames: How Group Dynamics Principles Can Be Applied to Active Health Games." In Handbook of Research on Holistic Perspectives in Gamification for Clinical Practice, edited by Daniel Novák, Bengisu Tulu, and Håvar Brendryen, 222-244. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2016. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-9522-1.ch011

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Abstract

Many adults and children in the U.S. are not active enough to meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for physical activity to maintain health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Exergames (exercise video games) have the potential to promote physical activity, and researchers have examined ways for improving motivation to exercise for longer and at higher intensities with these types of games. This chapter considers group dynamics principles as one way to influence motivation within exergames to help realize better health outcomes. We illustrate how group dynamics principles can be applied to exergames and how different task structures within groups (e.g., conjunctive, additive, and coactive tasks) can influence motivation. One group dynamic principle, the Köhler motivation gain effect, has been the basis of a series of research studies that we have conducted within exergames. We summarize this research, discuss the issues, controversies, and problems with using group dynamics in exergames, and provide possible solutions and recommendations.

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