Table 3
Characteristics and results of the mixed method studies included.
| Reference | Research design | Sample | Sample characteristics | Variables | Instruments | Game-fiction (Length) |
| Carrasco-Ramírez et al. (2019) | Pre-experimental static single-group action-research | NEG = 50 NCG = 40 NT = 2 | Bachelor | Academic performance, perception, motivation, teacher perception and gamified experience | Questionnaire, Exam, Evaluation report, Interview, Anecdotal register, Focus group | Basic physical qualities (~10 h) |
| Dólera-Montoya et al. (2021) | Quasi-experimental non-equivalent group action-research | NEG = 26 NCG = 19 NT = 2 | Primary (5th) (Nf = 18; Nm = 27) | Perception, motivation, responsibility, violence, psychological needs, and emotional and social functioning | Questionnaires (BREQ-2; PSRQ; CUVECO; PNSE and EQ-i:YV), Interview, Student’s diary | Problem on the Island (~4 h) |
| Fernández-Río et al. (2020) | Pre-experimental longitudinal single-group action-research | NS = 290 NT = 4 | Primary and Secondary (only 1st and 2nd) (Nf = 138; Nm = 152) | Intrinsic motivation, gamified experience | Questionnaire Motivation Drawing, Focus group, Teacher diary | MarvEF (~25 h) |
| Flores-Aguilar et al. (2021) | Pre-experimental longitudinal single-group action-research | NS = 76 | College students from sports sciences | Motivation, engagement, academic performance, learning, gamified elements, ICT, cooperative learning and formative assessment. | Self-Questionnaire (11 items) and three open-ended questions. | Super Mario Bros (~60 h) |
| Ortega & Chacón (2022) | Pre-experimental longitudinal single-group action-research | NA = 111 | Secondary (1st) (Nf = 60; Nm = 51) | Final grades, students’ attitudes, motivation and work done | Class notebook, Rubric and Teacher’s notebook | Harry Potter (~10 h) |
| Pérez-López et al. (2017) | Pre-experimental static single-group action-research | NEG = 73 NCG = 75 | College students from sports sciences | Healthy lifestyles and gamified experience | Questionnaire Green Survey, Overall assessment (only EG) | The prophecy of the chosen ones (~60 h) |
| Quintero-González et al. (2018) | Pre-experimental single-group action-research | NS = 29 | Secondary (2nd) (Nf = 11; Nm = 18) | Motivation, learning, prosocial attitudes, collaboration-cooperation, transfer of learning, gender and gamified experience | Questionnaire: Diana, Two open-ended questions | ExpandEF (~20 h) |
| Rodríguez-Martín et al. (2022) | Pre-experimental longitudinal single-group action-research | NS = 143 (Only girls) | Primary (5th and 6th) | Anxiety about failure | Spanish AMPET questionnaire Four open-ending question | The trip to Healthy Land (~20 h) |
| NS = Students sample; NT = Teacher sample; Nf = Female sample; Nm = Male sample; NEG = Experimental group sample; NCG = Control group sample | ||||||
