How are we evaluating Gamification? A Systematic Mapping of Methods and Psychometric Instruments for Evaluation of Gamification in Educational Contexts

Autores

  • Vinícius Lopes USP
  • Seiji Isotani USP
  • Diego Dermeval de Cunha Matos UFAL
  • Luiz Rodrigues UFAL

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-1916.153576

Palavras-chave:

gamification, evaluation, education, psychometric instruments

Resumo

Gamification has emerged as a widely adopted strategy in educational contexts, aiming to increase student motivation, engagement, and learning outcomes. However, evaluations of its effectiveness remain inconsistent, partly due to the lack of standardized methods and instruments. This study presents a systematic mapping of the literature to understand how gamification has been evaluated in educational settings. We identified common methodological approaches, evaluation criteria, and psychometric instruments used across recent studies. Findings reveal a strong reliance on custom-made instruments, which hinders comparability and replication. At the same time, we identified the adoption of validated instruments capable of assessing critical aspects like usability, motivation, and gameful experience. By organizing these instruments into conceptual domains, this study offers a clearer perspective on how gamification effectiveness can be assessed more rigorously. The results support the need for more structured evaluation practices that enhance the reliability and impact of gamification research in education.

Gamification has emerged as a widely adopted strategy in educational contexts, aiming to increase student motivation, engagement, and learning outcomes. However, evaluations of its effectiveness remain inconsistent, partly due to the lack of standardized methods and instruments. This study presents a systematic mapping of the literature to understand how gamification has been evaluated in educational settings. We identified common methodological approaches, evaluation criteria, and psychometric instruments used across recent studies. Findings reveal a strong reliance on custom-made instruments, which hinders comparability and replication. At the same time, we identified the adoption of validated instruments capable of assessing critical aspects like usability, motivation, and gameful experience. By organizing these instruments into conceptual domains, this study offers a clearer perspective on how gamification effectiveness can be assessed more rigorously. The results support the need for more structured evaluation practices that enhance the reliability and impact of gamification research in education.

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Publicado

2026-02-11

Como Citar

LOPES, Vinícius; ISOTANI, Seiji; MATOS, Diego Dermeval de Cunha; RODRIGUES, Luiz. How are we evaluating Gamification? A Systematic Mapping of Methods and Psychometric Instruments for Evaluation of Gamification in Educational Contexts . RENOTE, Porto Alegre, v. 24, n. 2, p. 465–476, 2026. DOI: 10.22456/1679-1916.153576. Disponível em: https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/renote/article/view/153576. Acesso em: 6 ago. 2026.

Edição

Seção

Jogos, tecnologias imersivas e aprendizagem ativa