Task Instructions for Motivation

Overseen By Vishnu P Murty

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Temple University

Must not be taking: Blood flow, Alertness

Disqualifiers: Head injury, CNS illness, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how people learn when they control their learning environment. Researchers will use a fun Game Show task, a motivational learning activity, to observe how motivation affects learning. It is designed for individuals with clear vision (20/40 or better) and who are generally healthy. Those with certain medical conditions or who use specific medications should not participate. This trial suits individuals comfortable with small spaces, as it might involve some imaging tests. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on learning and motivation.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking medications that affect blood flow response and alertness, you will need to stop taking them to participate in this trial.

What prior data suggests that this Game Show Task is safe?

Research shows that game-based tasks can safely boost motivation. For instance, studies on "serious games"—designed for more than just fun—have found they can positively influence behavior and safety. These games often enhance focus and motivation without causing harm.

This trial uses a Game Show Task, a type of serious game. Research has not reported any specific safety concerns with this task. Additionally, it doesn't involve drugs or medical procedures, which typically lowers the risk of side effects. While researchers continue to study this task, existing research suggests it is generally well-tolerated. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Game Show Task" because it explores how motivation can be influenced by a sense of agency in a unique experimental setup. Unlike traditional therapies or medications that target motivation through chemical or psychological intervention, this approach investigates motivation through interactive tasks that engage participants in a game-like environment. By examining how agency affects motivation, this trial could reveal new insights into boosting motivation without relying solely on drugs or standard behavioral therapies.

What evidence suggests that the Game Show Task is effective for motivation?

Studies have shown that game-based tasks can increase motivation. For example, one study found that competing in games improved performance on simpler tasks. Other studies noted that while badges and leaderboards didn't directly improve academic performance, they served as positive motivators. This suggests that elements like competition and scoring can make learning more engaging. In this trial, the Game Show Task aims to use these motivational elements to potentially enhance how people learn and explore new information. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This clinical trial is for individuals interested in how motivation affects learning. There are no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria provided, which suggests that the study may be open to a broad range of participants without strict health-related restrictions.

Inclusion Criteria

20/40 far acuity (either corrected or uncorrected)

In good medical health

Exclusion Criteria

History of head injury

Consumption of smoking and/or coffee 30 minutes prior to laboratory testing

Placement of a device contraindicated for magnetic resonance imaging including cardia pacemaker, aneurysm clip, cochlear implants, pregnancy, intra-uterine device, shrapnel, metal fragments in the eyes, neurostimulators

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Encoding Session

Participants engage in a Game Show task to manipulate agency and control their learning environment

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Immediate Memory Test

Participants complete an immediate item-associative memory test after the encoding session

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Delayed Memory Test

Participants complete a delayed item-associative memory test 24 hours after the encoding session

24 hours after encoding

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the memory tests

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Game Show Task

Trial Overview

The trial is testing how different task instructions can influence a person's motivation during a novel Game Show task. The focus is on understanding the impact of participant's control over their learning environment and unguided exploration.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Motivation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Trials in which participants are motivated by agency or not in a within-subjects design

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Temple University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

321

Recruited

89,100+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 124 post-stroke rehabilitation patients, those using telerehabilitation (TR) who performed poorly in video game-based therapy reported lower enjoyment of their activities, which is crucial for motivation and recovery.

However, patients in TR who adjusted their recovery goals despite low performance scores showed resilience, indicating that goal adjustment can help maintain motivation and satisfaction during rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of goal adjustment during rehabilitation from stroke. Cho, Y., Hamm, JM., Heckhausen, J., et al.[2022]

In a study with 37 healthy participants, incorporating game design elements like 'operant conditioning' and 'scoring' in a classic game increased playtime and enjoyment, suggesting these features can enhance engagement in rehabilitation therapies.

The positive results from this formative study pave the way for future research to test these game design parameters with stroke patients, aiming to improve their motivation and interaction during therapy sessions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design Parameters in Multimodal Games for Rehabilitation. Shah, N., Basteris, A., Amirabdollahian, F.[2021]

The safety game implemented for staff training has proven to be highly effective, with participants finding it enjoyable and engaging, which enhances their motivation to learn safety procedures.

Although preparation for the game took longer than traditional lectures, it allows for immediate application of knowledge and provides valuable feedback, making it a beneficial teaching method for safety training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Games that teach: a practical approach. Wolkenheim, BJ., Westdorp, J.[2019]

In a study with 90 participants, competing with a software-generated partner in an exercise video game significantly increased motivation and effort compared to exercising alone.

Participants who competed with the software partner against another team reported higher enjoyment and a stronger sense of teamwork, suggesting that intergroup competition can enhance the exercise experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intergroup Competition in Exergames: Further Tests of the Köhler Effect. Moss, T., Feltz, DL., Kerr, NL., et al.[2018]

The researchers developed a network game aimed at preventing osteoporosis in adolescent females, using Instruction System Design to create an engaging and educational experience based on thorough demand and learner analysis.

The game successfully combines entertainment with health education, enhancing adolescents' interest in and commitment to health-promoting behaviors related to osteoporosis prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[The development of a network game to prevent osteoporosis among adolescent females]. Liou, CW., Chung, UL.[2015]

The study introduces a customizable Jeopardy!--type game template designed for psychology courses, which can be adapted for various topics and languages, enhancing student engagement.

The authors provide their own reliable template to overcome the limitations of existing shareware options, which often have unreliable links, ensuring easier access for educators.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of PowerPoint shareware for making Jeopardy!--type games in the teaching of psychology. Lord, PB., Martin, MM., Abramson, CI.[2015]

Gamified interventions, which often use point systems as rewards, are prevalent in behavior change strategies, with 18 out of 21 reviewed studies incorporating some form of reward system.

While rewards like points and tangible items are common, their use may hinder the development of intrinsic motivation, suggesting a need for future research to better understand how these rewards affect long-term behavior change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What's the Point?: A Review of Reward Systems Implemented in Gamification Interventions. Lewis, ZH., Swartz, MC., Lyons, EJ.[2022]

Z-DOC is a prototype serious game designed to train plastic surgery residents in the Z-plasty surgical procedure, utilizing touch-based interactions to enhance engagement and motivation among users.

The game aims to improve trainees' understanding of the Z-plasty procedure compared to traditional learning methods, suggesting a potential shift towards more interactive educational tools in medical training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Z-DOC: a serious game for Z-plasty procedure training. Shewaga, R., Knox, A., Ng, G., et al.[2022]

The mobile game-based VR rehabilitation program (MoU-Rehab) significantly improved upper extremity function in stroke patients compared to conventional therapy, as measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and other metrics.

The program was well-tolerated with no adverse effects reported, and patients expressed high satisfaction, indicating its feasibility as a rehabilitation tool for upper limb recovery after ischemic stroke.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile game-based virtual reality rehabilitation program for upper limb dysfunction after ischemic stroke. Choi, YH., Ku, J., Lim, H., et al.[2019]

The study involving 42 participants demonstrated that as the difficulty level of a game increases, player involvement also increases, but only up to a point; if the task becomes too difficult, engagement drops significantly.

This research provides the first evidence that Motivational Intensity Theory can be applied to game design, suggesting it could help developers optimize player experience by balancing challenge and feasibility.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Player involvement as a result of difficulty: An introductory study to test the suitability of the motivational intensity approach to video game research. Strojny, P., Strojny, A., Rębilas, K.[2023]

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In this paper we investigate how competition among tutees in the context of learning by teaching affects tutors' engagement as well as tutor learning.

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A key result was that peer competition motivated better performance in easy, but not difficult tasks.

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Comparing the effectiveness of badges and leaderboards ...

Badges and leaderboards did not affect participants' academic performance; however, most students approached them positively as motivational tools.

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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The different results from these two experiments suggest that competition can improve attention in a physical effort task, yet caution the use of competition ...

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