The Learning Process in Live-Action Simulation Games: The Impact of Personality, Motivation, Immersion, and Flow on Learning Outcome in a Simulation Game

Anna K. Preuß

Simulation & Gaming, 2021, vol. 52, issue 6, 775-795

Abstract: Background Against the backdrop of the cognitive-motivational process model proposed by Vollmeyer and Rheinberg (1998) , this study investigates how the personality trait need for cognition in combination with a specific situation (short and long version of a live-action simulation game ) , current motivation, and immersion and flow (mediators ) predict the learning outcome in the simulation game EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE CLASSROOM ( Starker & Imhof, 2014 ). Methods N = 138 teacher students played the short 2-hour version of the simulation game, and N = 77 played the long 2-day version. Need for cognition, current motivation, immersion, flow, and learning outcome were measured by self-report questionnaires. Results A hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the impact of the predictor variables (need for cognition, current motivation, immersion, and flow) on the self-evaluated learning outcome. For the 2-hour group, the predictor variables interest, challenge, and immersion (subscale: engagement ) impacted self-reported learning outcome significantly positive. For the 2-day group, significant predictors were need for cognition, interest, and immersion (subscale: engrossment ). In comparison of the two game versions, students playing the 2-day version reported significantly higher levels of engagement, engrossment, and learning outcome. Conclusion The cognitive-motivational process model of learning was partly supported: interest and immersion predict learning outcome in the live-action simulation game. The extended 2-day version of the game leads to higher levels of immersion and higher learning outcome, indicating that a longer timeframe secures the desired effects on learning outcome from simulation games. Further research needs to shed light on the interaction of personality traits and immersion.

Keywords: Need for Cognition; Current Motivation; Immersion; Flow; Live-Action Simulation Game; Higher Education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10468781211049822 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:simgam:v:52:y:2021:i:6:p:775-795

DOI: 10.1177/10468781211049822

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Simulation & Gaming
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().