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Analysis of institutional authors

Tobon, SandraCorresponding Author

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Gamification and online consumer decisions: Is the game over?

Publicated to:Decision Support Systems. 128 113167-e113167 - 2020-01-01 128(), DOI: 10.1016/j.dss.2019.113167

Authors: Tobon, Sandra; Ruiz-Alba, Jose L; Garcia-Madariaga, Jesus

Affiliations

Univ Complutense Madrid, Fac Econ & Business, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Westminster, Westminster Business Sch, Sch Management & Mkt, London, England - Author

Abstract

Consumption can be more than just a necessity; it can become a leisure activity. With the emergence of e-commerce and social media, products and services are just one click away; a trend that is further driven by gamified systems. This research aims to systematically analyze the most relevant academic literature on gamification, to establish if it influences online consumer decisions and, if so, which elements, mechanisms, and theories can explain it. After a thorough search from Web of Science and Scopus databases using SciMAT, 257 papers were analyzed. Twenty-nine (29) of the 36 papers found show empirical evidence that the inclusion of game elements in non-game activities has a significant influence on consumer engagement and online consumer decisions in digital contexts. Moreover, rewards and challenges were identified as the two most used mechanisms, with points, badges, and leaderboards being the most tested gamification elements. The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) are the two most common theoretical explanations for why gamification works. Lastly, possible future studies to include thematic, methodological and theoretical agendas were discussed.

Keywords

BehaviorConsumptionE-commerceElementsEngagementGamificationImpactInformation-systemsLoyaltyMechanismsOnline consumer decisionsSatisfactionSelf-determination theorySerious gamesSocial mediaSystematic review

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Decision Support Systems due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position 13/84, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Operations Research & Management Science.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 7.74. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 22.47 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 53.83 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-19, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 139
  • Scopus: 182
  • OpenCitations: 120

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-19:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 917 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: United Kingdom.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (TOBON PERILLA, SANDRA MARIBEL) .

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been TOBON PERILLA, SANDRA MARIBEL.