This study investigated the influence of four identity-enhancing (IDE) features on online discussion participation, discussion quality, and students’ sense of satifisfaction. IDE features included avatars, signatures, point systems, and rankings which are commonly found in digital games. From the perspective of sociology, communication theories, behaviorism, and metacognition, avatars and signatures could enrich the static presentation of students’ virtual identities while point systems and rankings provide students with self-monitoring clues and a videogame-like competitive environment. A modified PhpBB2 Forum was used as the platform to implement the experiment.
The experiment was conducted in six sections of an introductory instructional technology course and an introductory philosophy course at two Midwestern universities. The 124 students were assigned to either the experimental group, which 4 used the IDE discussion forum, or the comparison group, which used the same forum but without the IDE features.
The results found that a forum designed with IDE features could significantly promote discussion participation and increase students’ sense of satisfaction with the discussion forum. We also found that students of different backgrounds have differential preference for each IDE feature. Students who have more video game experience and online discussion experience prefer avatars and signatures more than those who have less experience.