How and when does gamification level up mobile app effectiveness? Meta-analytics review

Abstract

Purpose

Gamification in mobile apps has emerged as a compelling strategy to foster firm’s relationships with their customers through mobile applications. This study utilizes a meta-analytic review to demonstrate how gamification shapes consumer responses and how moderator variables play a role in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a meta-analytic review to combine and synthesize data from 62 studies, including 71 independent samples and a sample size of 20,510 to test the research model and examine the role of moderators in this model.

Findings

Findings reveal that gamification, through the customer experience components (cognitive, hedonic, pragmatic and social elements), leads to customer engagement, resulting in word-of-mouth and loyalty. However, privacy concerns play a destructive role in this process, deteriorating customer–firm relationships. Moderator analysis indicates that gamification design elements, such as rewards, progression and customization systems, along with product and service benefit, involvement, familiarity and firm type moderate the relationship between gamification and customer response.

Research limitations/implications

The meta-analysis main and moderator analysis results provide several insights for marketing managers that assist them in developing an effective gamification in mobile app strategy.

Originality/value

The findings reveal novel insights, encompassing both the bright and dark sides of the influence of gamification on customer response, while also examining the moderating roles of gamification, product and service and firm characteristics.