A Bibliometric Analysis of Gamification Research

Gamification has rapidly emerged as one of the favorite persuasive technologies widely used with aim promoting a positive change in user's behavior by means including game-like elements non-game contexts. As research discipline, gamification is growing fast, maturing from basic and fundamental questions such what why gamify to more mature ones how gamify, when not, still facing empirical theoretical challenges prove effects its practice consolidate principles that guide meaningful designs. The purpose this paper conduct bibliometric study describe scientific discipline structured it evolved over time. To do this, we make use performance analysis science mapping methods display analyze intellectual, conceptual social network structures research, well evolution dynamical aspects discipline. results reveal fronts intellectual field, internal relationships among articles, authors keywords, existing networks collaboration, emerging trends, hot topics, most influential authors, publications sources. Together, they picture landscape field will be useful for junior senior researchers, practitioners, funding agencies policymakers.