The integration of game mechanics into non-game-related environments, also known as gamification, has gained increased attention in recent years. This practice can have a significant impact on the user experience in different contexts. In the past, gamification was mainly researched in the field of education. However, with the rise of dating apps, there has recently been an opportunity to use gamification as a promising way to improve the user experience in this particular context.
This thesis focuses on the central research question: "How does the integration of gamification elements impact the overall user experience in dating apps?". To answer this question, three different prototypes for an iPhone application were developed. These prototypes are based on the well-known dating app "Tinder" and mainly focus on the user interface while "swiping". One of the prototypes doesn't contain any additional gamification elements, while another prototype has integrated progress bars and a third prototype has integrated sound effects.
In total 50 subjects were recruited to test the prototypes. Subsequently, the participants filled out a questionnaire that included both specially developed questions and questions from the "User Experience Questionnaire Short (UEQ-S)" by Schrepp et al. (2017). The quantitative data collected was analysed to assess the impact of gamification elements on the user experience.
The results of this research showed that the integration of sound effects resulted in an 8% increase in user experience, while the integration of a progress bar resulted in a significant improvement of 25%. These findings highlight the positive impact of gamification elements in dating apps and provide valuable insights for the development of future applications in this area. This thesis therefore contributes to the in-depth investigation of gamification in non-traditional environments and emphasizes the importance of a user focussed design of dating apps.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Problem Statement
- Research Question
- Objective
- Related Work
- Origin and Function of Dating Apps
- User Experience in Dating Apps
- Gamification
- Gamification and User Experience
- The Role of Gamification in Dating Apps
- Potential Challenges and Risks
- Methodology
- Case Study Design
- Selection of Gamification Elements
- Designing the Gamified Prototype
- User Feedback Collection
- Implementation Details
- Technical Aspects of the Gamified Prototype
- Integration of Gamification Elements in the App's User Interface
- Testing and Documentation
- Experiments and Analysis
- Description of Experiment Setup
- Data Collection Methods
- Analysis of User Experience
- Discussion and Conclusion
- Effects of Gamification on User Experience
- Recommendations for Practical Applications
- Limitations and Challenges Encountered
- Future Directions for Gamification in Dating Apps
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis investigates the impact of gamification elements on user experience in dating apps. It aims to answer the research question: "How does the integration of gamification elements impact the overall user experience in dating apps?". To achieve this, the author developed and tested three different prototypes for an iPhone application, incorporating varying levels of gamification elements.
- The impact of gamification on user experience in dating apps.
- The design and implementation of gamified prototypes for a dating app.
- The evaluation of user experience through user testing and data analysis.
- The potential benefits and challenges of incorporating gamification in dating app design.
- Recommendations for future applications of gamification in dating apps.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: Introduces the topic of gamification in dating apps, outlining the research question and objective. It also provides a brief overview of the problem statement, the current state of research, and the importance of this study.
- Related Work: This chapter explores the background of dating apps, user experience in this context, and the concept of gamification. It examines the existing literature on gamification in user experience design and analyzes its potential application in dating apps. It also discusses potential challenges and risks associated with gamification in this specific field.
- Methodology: This chapter describes the research design, focusing on the case study approach used in this study. It outlines the selection of gamification elements, the design of the gamified prototype, and the user feedback collection process.
- Implementation Details: This chapter delves into the technical aspects of the gamified prototype, detailing the integration of gamification elements into the app's user interface, and the testing and documentation process.
- Experiments and Analysis: This chapter describes the experimental setup, data collection methods, and the analysis of user experience data. It provides insights into the impact of different gamification elements on user experience.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key keywords and focus topics of this thesis include gamification, user experience, dating apps, mobile application development, prototype design, user testing, quantitative data analysis, and user interface design.
- Quote paper
- Dominik Schatilow (Author), 2023, Enhancing User Experience in Dating Apps through Gamification, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1445477