General Questions About Gamification in Assessment
Which of the following best describes gamification in assessment?
A. Replacing traditional tests entirely with video games
B. Using game design elements in non-game assessment contexts
C. Assessing only students who enjoy games
D. Making assessments easier and less rigorous
B
What distinguishes Game-Related Assessments (GRAs) from simple gamified quizzes?
A. GRAs focus only on entertainment
B. GRAs are not scored
C. GRAs embed assessment within gameplay mechanics
D. GRAs avoid measuring cognitive skills
C
Which of the following is a key challenge when using GRAs for assessment?
A. Players always behave naturally
B. GRAs eliminate bias entirely
C. It can be difficult to ensure construct validity
D. GRAs are always cheaper than traditional tests
C
Define gamification in the context of assessment.
Gamification in assessment refers to the use of game design elements—such as points, levels, feedback, narratives, or challenges—within non-game assessment contexts to increase engagement, motivation, and persistence while measuring learning or skills.
What are Game-Related Assessments (GRAs)?
Game-Related Assessments are assessment tools that integrate measurement directly into gameplay, using player actions, decisions, and behaviors within a game environment to infer psychological traits, skills, or competencies.
What is construct validity, and why is it important for GRAs?
Construct validity refers to the extent to which an assessment accurately measures the psychological construct it claims to measure. In GRAs, it is crucial because observed in-game behaviors must genuinely reflect the intended underlying skills or traits, not unrelated gaming abilities or preferences.
Give one example of gamification in assessment.
An example is a mathematics assessment where students earn points and progress through levels by solving problems, receiving immediate feedback and visual rewards instead of completing a traditional paper-based test.
Provide an example of a Game-Related Assessment.
A problem-solving GRA might assess planning ability by tracking how a player allocates resources and adapts strategies in a simulated game scenario, rather than asking direct test questions.
Give an example of a construct validity issue in a GRA.
A GRA designed to measure problem-solving ability may instead reflect a player’s prior gaming experience or familiarity with game controls, meaning performance scores do not purely represent problem-solving skill.