The engagement–addiction dilemma: an empirical evaluation of mobile user interface and mobile game affordance
ISSN: 1066-2243
Article publication date: 17 March 2021
Issue publication date: 1 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The engagement–addiction dilemma has been commonly observed in the information technology (IT) industry. However, this issue has received limited research attention in the information system (IS) discipline. Drawing on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, this study explores the engagement–addiction dilemma in the use of mobile games and highlights the impacts of game design features, namely, mobile user interface and mobile game affordance.
Design/methodology/approach
The research model was empirically validated using a longitudinal survey data from 410 mobile game users in China.
Findings
The empirical results offer several key findings. First, mobile user interface and mobile game affordance positively affect telepresence and social presence, which lead to meaningful engagement and mobile game addiction. Second, a high-quality of mobile user interface positively moderates the effects of mobile game affordance on telepresence and social presence.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by theorizing and empirically testing the impacts of game design features on the engagement-addiction dilemma.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The work described in this study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Project Nos. 72001168 and 72032006] and the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China [Project No. 2020M673431].
Citation
Yang, Q. and Gong, X. (2021), "The engagement–addiction dilemma: an empirical evaluation of mobile user interface and mobile game affordance", Internet Research, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 1745-1768. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-11-2020-0622
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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