Learning through Challenges and Enigmas: Educational Escape Room as a Predictive Experience of Motivation in University Students
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The paper is about the implementation of an educational escape room as a gamified learning experience to enhance student motivation and engagement. it also aims to explore how the use of gamification elements such as fun, absorption, creative thinking, activation, negative affect, and dominance in the educational escape room can influence student motivation and engagement. The idea is quite original and in thick lines the paper contributes to academia, but I would like to indicate some points the authors should address.
The research methodology used in this study was quantitative and correlational. Descriptive and Pearson correlation analyses were performed to analyze the study variables (Sociodemographic, Motivation and Gamification). Additionally, linear regression models were constructed to observe the predictive effect of gamification dimensions on student motivation. The main limitation (authors indicated) is limited generalizability, due to data analysis. I would suggest proceeding further on using different methods and tools. For instance, (I) mediation analysis could be conducted to examine whether the relationship between gamification dimensions and student motivation is mediated by other variables. (SEM model could be performed), (II) Moderation analysis could be conducted to investigate whether the relationship between gamification dimensions and student motivation is influenced by certain moderating variables etc. Finally, qualitative analysis methods could be incorporated such as interviews or focus groups to provide deeper insights into the subjective experiences and perceptions of students regarding the educational escape room and its impact on motivation and engagement
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Please find attached a document with further details
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Although the English is overall well written, some terms should be revised, to ensure they convey the sense the authors intend to.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
By using a quantitative and correlational methodology, the current study aims to investigate the predictive capacity of the different dimensions of the game improved by educational escape room on motivation based on the model of self-determination theory.
The central idea is interesting. The hypotheses are valid and original. The title of the article is concise, specific and relevant. Hypotheses are clearly stated. Although the methodology section can be improved, it provides relevant information. The results are interesting and provide positive feedback. In the discussion and conclusions, there are several interesting interpretations of the results.
In general, I believe that this paper is valuable and has the potential to be published. However, it needs some minor improvements mainly in organization and presentation.
· It is not necessary to use numbers in the keywords section.
· I believe that the abstract does not help the reader to clearly understand the central idea and the objectives of the study. Results are adequately described. In the abstract, it would be useful to rephrase or more clearly state the aim and the methodology.
· The introduction needs strengthening in terms of coherence (1-2 paragraphs). Α smoother shift is needed for justifying the research gap. I believe that the introduction needs filtering. For instance, the theory of motivations is over-analyzed taking into account the guidelines of introductions and the objectives of the current paper. It would be better to focus on basic elements such as the basic background knowledge, the objectives, and the importance of this paper. It is important to help the reader to keep in mind the structure of this research. It would be better to add a brief theoretical section to analyze in more detail the theoretical background.
· Check language (i.e. line 170), the length of the several sentences may distract the reader (ie lines 43-47), acronyms/Abbreviations/Initialisms should be defined the first time they appear (i.e., intrinsic motivation).
· References must be numbered in order of appearance in the text (including table captions and figure legends) and listed individually at the end of the manuscript. In the text, reference numbers should be placed in square brackets [ ], and placed before the punctuation; for example [1], [1–3] or [1,3]. The reference list should include the full title, as recommended by the ACS style guide.
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
We acknowledge the authors' time and effort allocated in designing and delivering their innovative and with great interest for HE gamification/escape room/motivation-related research. The authors provided us with a quality paper. Our recommendations to improve this manuscript further, would be the following, please: a) Abstract, Keywords: (2) Methods (3) Results (4) Conclusions: Kindly remove the numbers from keywords; b) line 14: game-enhanced research; c) line 292: Table 2 Here approximately: Please remove it; d) line 296: game-enhanced approach; e) Please include a screenshot that reflects the escape room mirroring visualization improvement; f) Kindly add a conceptual model reflecting your obtained results, please.
We were pleased to be able to go through part of your interesting work.
Thank you and best regards.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Thanks for accepting all the recommendations, and justifying your changes. I think the paper looks now much sounder, and more evident to the reader, so it's ready for publication.
The English is fine or requires minimum changes
