The motivation of children to play an active video game.

Full Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a weekly multiplayer class on the motivation of children aged 9-12 years to play an interactive dance simulation video game (IDSVG) at home over a period of 12 weeks. A sample of 27 children was randomly assigned to (1) a home group instructed to play the IDSVG at home; (2) a multiplayer group instructed to play the IDSVG at home and to participate in a weekly IDSVG multiplayer class. Participants were asked to play the IDSVG as often as they liked and report the playing time daily on a calendar for a 12-week period. Motivation to play was assessed by the playing duration of IDSVG in minutes and the dropout during the study. Mean age of the 16 children who completed the study was 10.6+/-0.8 years. During the 12-week intervention period, the multiplayer group played approximately twice as many minutes (901min) as the home group (376min, p=0.13). Dropout was significantly (p=0.02) lower in the multiplayer group (15%) than in the home group (64%). Our findings suggest that multiplayer classes may increase children's motivation to play interactive dance simulation video games.

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Author information

Author/s: Chin A Paw, Marijke J M (MJ); Jacobs, Wietske M (WM); Vaessen, Ellen P G (EP); Titze, Sylvia (S); van Mechelen, Willem (W);

Affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, The Netherlands. m.chinapaw(-atsign-)vumc.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of science and medicine in sport / Sports Medicine Australia (J Sci Med Sport), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 11 (issue 2) : pp 163-6

Dates: Created 2008/02/22; Completed 2008/05/27;

PMID: 17706461, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child
Competitive Behavior
Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods
Dancing
Humans

Humans
Motivation
Peer Group
Physical Education and Training - methods
Video Games

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