Investigating the Influence of Game Elements in Civic Engagement

In my PhD thesis, I explore what elements in mobile e-participation (m-participation) tools encourage citizens' involvement in urban governance. My research aims to investigate how game elements such as achievement badges, reward systems and opportunities for social interaction can be utilized to achieve a continuous dialogue between a city and its citizens. Using prototypical m-participation systems, the effect of those elements is evaluated through user studies. The outcomes offer implications for both research and practice, who can benefit from resulting requirements for existing and future participation tools.