The influence of gamification on motivation and academic engagement of economics students

Abstract

In the context of the digital transformation of education and the growing need to increase students’ motivation and engagement, gamification is becoming one of the key innovative approaches. This article presents the results of a study of the influence of a developed gamification model on academic motivation, learning engagement, and academic performance among economics students. The study involved 380 students divided into control and experimental groups. The use of a gamified program, including interactive tasks, game mechanics, and the principles of the flipped classroom, showed a statistically significant increase in intrinsic motivation, engagement, and academic performance in the experimental group compared with the control group. Qualitative analysis confirmed students’ positive perception of game elements and their influence on understanding complex economic concepts. The results emphasize the potential of gamification as an effective tool for developing professional competencies and critical thinking in higher education.