The Gamification User Types Hexad Scale

TLDR

Personalizing gamified systems to users’ personalities is needed, yet mapping personality to design elements is challenging, and the Hexad model attempts this mapping without a standard assessment procedure. We developed a 24‑item survey scale to quantify users’ preferences for the six motivations defined in the Hexad framework. The scale was validated through internal consistency, test‑retest reliability, and factor analysis. The scale showed significant links between Hexad user types and Big Five traits, confirmed its validity via correlation analysis, and provides an accurate tool for measuring user preference in gamification research.

Abstract

Several studies have indicated the need for personalizing gamified systems to users' personalities. However, mapping user personality onto design elements is difficult. Hexad is a gamification user types model that attempts this mapping but lacks a standard procedure to assess user preferences. Therefore, we created a 24-items survey response scale to score users' preferences towards the six different motivations in the Hexad framework. We used internal and test-retest reliability analysis, as well as factor analysis, to validate this new scale. Further analysis revealed significant associations of the Hexad user types with the Big Five personality traits. In addition, a correlation analysis confirmed the framework's validity as a measure of user preference towards different game design elements. This scale instrument contributes to games user research because it enables accurate measures of user preference in gamification.