The Impact of Quest-Based Feedback and Point-Based Feedback on Users' Emotions and Engagement

Gamification has become a widely recognized concept within the domain of human-computer interaction. However, researchers have underscored concerns regarding the overreliance on points as game elements and argue that gamification should be differentiated from pointsification (i.e., the use of points, badges and leaderboards). To address this issue, we suggest a shift towards a holistic game-thinking approach. We conducted an experimental study (n=435 participants) to investigate the impact of point-based feedback (i.e., points as numerical values) and quest-based feedback (i.e., a quest incorporating points, levels and avatar) on emotional experience and engagement outcomes. No significant differences were found for emotions, engagement and cognitive load. Regarding user experience, quest-based feedback was rated as significantly more stimulating than elaborated feedback. Consequently, our findings do not conclusively support the effectiveness of either approach. Overall, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding the differentiation of points from gamification, and adds to understanding the impact of gamification on users' behavior.