Flow Experience Research Articles

Online flow experience: The contribution of distinct depressive profiles.

Online flow experience: The contribution of distinct depressive profiles.

Research on the influence of perceived quality on users’ continuance usage intention of online live streaming class platforms: the mediating role of flow experience and the moderating impact of perceived usefulness

BackgroundWith the penetration of the “Internet+” into social life, the digitization of education has become a trend and national demand. Alongside the rise of the “Everyone Live Streaming” era, online live streaming class platforms have rapidly grown due to favorable user experiences.MethodsGrounded in the Expectation Confirmation Theory, this study employed questionnaire surveys to investigate the influence mechanism of perceived quality, flow experience, and perceived usefulness on individuals’ continuance usage intention of online live streaming class platforms.ResultsThrough the analysis of 773 survey responses, this study reveals several key findings. Firstly, perceived quality significantly and positively affects users’ intention to continue using the online live streaming class platforms. Secondly, flow experience partially mediates the relationship between perceived quality and continuance usage intention, underscoring its significance in user decision-making. Additionally, Perceived usefulness negatively moderates the relationship between perceived quality and flow experience, demonstrating varied effects.ConclusionOn the one hand, online live streaming platforms should actively invest in improving the quality of user perception, as this can lead to a better user flow experience and continued willingness to use. On the other hand, they should also pay more attention to the user’s flow experience, which has a direct impact on the user’s propensity to continue to use. Besides, the perceived usefulness of the online live class by the user should also be taken seriously.

Research on the Matching Mechanism Between E-Commerce Channels and Advertising Appeals

An increasing number of enterprises are adopting a dual-channel business strategy that combines short video e-commerce with traditional e-commerce in their online activities. Previous research on advertising appeals has primarily focused on ad content, products, and consumers. However, the lack of attention given to shopping channels raises a question for the retail industry: How can enterprises create differentiated ads that cater to the needs of consumers in different channels? Across three studies, this research builds upon the regulatory focus theory to demonstrate that consumers on e-commerce platforms, as opposed to short video platforms, are more likely to adopt a prevention-focused mindset rather than a promotion-focused one and vice versa. This positive consumer response arises from the flow experience generated by the regulatory fit between e-commerce channels and advertising appeals. The findings of this research offer both theoretical and practical contributions to the realms of marketing and e-commerce.

Doing good with flow: Unlocking brand passion through virtual CSR co‐creation participation and immersive experiences

AbstractAdvancements in social media technology have empowered brands to engage in virtual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) co‐creation activities, which are crucial for CSR success and sustainability. Employing four scenario‐based experimental studies (1049 samples in total) alongside analyses of variance (ANOVA) and regression methodologies, we investigate how virtual CSR co‐creation activities impact consumer emotional reactions and branding behaviors. The SPSS software and the Process macro were used for data analysis. The results reveal that higher persistence (Study 1) and deeper participation (Study 2) in virtual CSR co‐creation are more likely to enhance brand passion. Flow experience mediates the above positive relationship between virtual CSR co‐creation and brand passion. Furthermore, when virtual CSR co‐creation activities take place in private settings rather than public settings, the positive effects of consumers' participation persistence and depth on brand passion will be attenuated. This work advances the theoretical understanding of brand passion within the domain of virtual CSR co‐creation. It provides new perspectives and practical implications for enhancing consumer‐brand relationships through virtual CSR co‐creation activities.

A Systematic Review on the Efficacy of Flow Experience on Continuance Intention in e-Learning: The Need for Overarching Evidence Synthesis

The application of the concept of flow in the context of the e-learning environment has widespread benefits. Creating a sense of flow can result in a positive learner experience and continuance in the e-learning environment. However, in the past two decades, applying the flow concept in analysing continuance intention in an e-learning context has been vague and complicated due to the broad nature and learners’ behaviour. This includes the lack of certainty in operationalising the flow framework, theories, multitude of methods, or delivery settings. More specifically, uncertainty persists regarding the association between flow experience and continuance in e-learning. Hence, we intend to systematically review, synthesise and appraise the literature on the operationalisation of flow experience, methods used to study the flow concept, and the relationship between flow experience and continuance intention. We reported this systematic review according to the guidance of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Electronic database searches on Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, and manual searches yielded 913 potential papers. Overall, n=20 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2021 satisfying the eligibility criteria were included. The synthesis identified that all the studies applied quantitative research design to examine the relationship between flow experience and continuance intention. While evidence also accumulated that no included studies have conceptualised flow experience considering all the nine dimensions, the lack of certainty in operationalising the flow framework applied in e-learning invites the attention of the researchers to validate the dimensions. Finally, most studies in the review exhibited a significant relationship between flow experience and continuance intention. The study provides a comprehensive synthesis and an in-depth analysis of the body of knowledge produced in the area of flow experience and continuance in the e-learning context, as it helps in providing implications for online marketers, learners, and academic institutions. The approach incorporated for synthesising evidence in this study lays a rigorous benchmark for conducting systematic reviews. This research study will be an asset for researchers and methodologists undertaking systematic reviews in e-learning. A total n=20 peer-reviewed articles were included after performing a search on Scopus, Web of Science, and JSTOR. Results of the study reveal that all the studies applied quantitative research design for examining the relationship between flow experience and continuance intention. Further, the lack of certainty in operationalizing the flow framework applied in e-learning invites the attention of the researchers to validate the dimensions. Finally, the majority of the studies in the review exhibited a significant relationship between flow experience and continuance intention. The study provides a comprehensive synthesis and an in-depth analysis of the body of knowledge produced in the area of flow experience and continuance in the e-learning context, as it helps in providing implications for online marketers, learners, and academic institutions. The approach incorporated for synthesizing evidence in this study lays a rigorous benchmark for conducting systematic reviews. This paper will be a valuable asset for researchers and methodologists undertaking systematic reviews in e-learning.

How does the metaverse transform festival tourism? A Cognitive-Affective Personality System (CAPS) theory

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate how metaverse scenes influence users’ metaverse flow experiences and their level of satisfaction, ultimately leading to electronic word-of-mouth in the context of the Guangfu Temple Fair. The partial least squares method was used to explore the conceptual model using 625 valid survey data points collected during the metaverse festival. The empirical results indicate that the metaverse scene has a substantial effect on visitors’ metaverse flow experience. Previous visits serve as key moderators in the relationship between the metaverse flow experience and user satisfaction with the metaverse environment pertaining to the festival.

Studying the Flow Experience in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning

Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is recognized as an effective methodology for fostering social interaction mediated by technology in ways that potentially trigger learning. The successful implementation of CSCL hinges on factors such as the scripting mechanics for activity sequencing proposed by Collaborative Learning Flow Patterns (CLFP). Yet, research in CSCL scripts has not studied if CLFPs achieves the so-called notion of “flow experience,” defined as an optimal state in which individuals are engaged and absorbed in an activity. This study proposes an approach to measure flow in the case of the Pyramid CLFP and studies the factors that influence the flow experience in the PyramidApp tool. The study tests a model that uses analysis of the Flow Short Scale and data logs. The findings show that there is a relationship between factors such as the speed of individual contributions and active participation in groups with the flow experience. Notably, the quantity of participation does not exhibit a discernible impact on the flow. The study emphasizes the interest of the modelled factors and the proposed approach for learning analytics to understand the flow experience in CLFP implementations.

Integrating Sustainable Educational Innovations and Spatial Cognition: A Study of Factors Affecting College Students’ Sustainable Learning Behavior in Virtual Simulation Environments

Objective: This study investigated the factors influencing college students’ continuous utilization intention of virtual simulation software (Animation Character Virtual Simulation Software V1.0) in the context of current efforts to promote sustainable educational practices and explored design strategies to enhance this willingness in a sustainable manner. Method: Based on the Expectation Confirmation Model of Information System Continuance (ECM-ISC), this study developed a model to examine the impact of college students’ spatial ability (SA) on their virtual simulation learning behavior. Upon administering a questionnaire to the selected participants (N = 164), the survey data were analyzed for reliability and validity. Subsequently, the relationships among the model’s variables were explored. Result: For college students majoring in Digital Media Art, spatial ability significantly positively affects their sustainable utilization intention of virtual simulation software within 3D virtual scenarios. Meanwhile, it positively impacts perceived ease of use (PEU) and flow experience (FE), which are key factors in promoting the sustainable adoption of such technologies. The introduced spatial ability, perceived ease of use, and flow experience influence the endogeneity of the ECM-ISC. Moreover, gender differences in spatial ability are profound among these students. Conclusion: The primary influencing pathway is spatial ability → flow experience → expectation confirmation → perceived usefulness → continuous utilization intention. Enhancing spatial ability is one effective way to advance virtual simulation software, offering new insights for its design and long-term improvement in alignment with sustainable educational practices.

Exploring engagement and flow experiences in collective music practices of amateurs, students and professional musicians

The purpose of this research was to explore the engagement and flow experiences in collective music practices of amateurs, students, and professional musicians. Based on the first phase of a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design, this article presents the results obtained from an online survey with 102 participants from diverse collective music practices. The results obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Some statistically significant differences were observed in the interaction between participant groups (amateurs, students, and professionals) and dimensions of engagement (behavioral, cognitive, and emotional), as reported in the results and discussed in relation to the literature. In summary, we were able to explore and discuss some aspects of engagement, motivation, and flow experience based on the participants’ responses regarding their collective music practices.

Enhancing self-directed learning with custom GPT AI facilitation among medical students: A randomized controlled trial

ABASTRACT Objective This study aims to assess the impact of LearnGuide, a specialized ChatGPT tool designed to support self-directed learning among medical students. Materials and methods In this 14-week randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06276049), 103 medical students were assigned to either an intervention group, which received 12 weeks of problem-based training with LearnGuide support, or a control group, which received identical training without AI assistance. Primary and secondary outcomes, including Self-Directed Learning Scale scores at 6 and 12 weeks, Cornell Critical Thinking Test Level Z scores, and Global Flow Scores, were evaluated with a 14-week follow-up. Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical comparisons between the groups. Results At 6 weeks, the intervention group showed a marginally higher median Self-Directed Learning Scale score, which further improved by 12 weeks (4.15 [95% CI, 0.82 to 7.48]; p = 0.01) and was sustained at the 14-week follow-up. Additionally, this group demonstrated notable improvements in the Cornell Critical Thinking Test Score at 12 weeks (7.11 [95% CI, 4.50 to 9.72]; p < 0.001), which persisted into the 14-week follow-up. The group also experienced enhancements in the Global Flow Score from 6 weeks, maintaining superiority over the control group through 12 weeks. Conclusions LearnGuide significantly enhanced self-directed learning, critical thinking, and flow experiences in medical students, highlighting the crucial role of AI tools in advancing medical education.

The Involvement, Flow Experience, and Happiness at the 2022 National Chung-Cheng Cup Hockey Tournament

This study investigated the relationship between hockey participants’ involvement, flow experience, and happiness. This study used a questionnaire method to collect data. A total of 300 questionnaires were administered to hockey participants from 2022/12/06 to 2022/12/11 at the National Chushan Senior High School hockey field using a convenience sampling method. After deducting the 12 questionnaires with incomplete answers, the total number of valid questionnaires was 288, with a validity rate of 96.0%. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 for descriptive statistics to understand the distribution of sample attributes. Smart PLS 3 was used to analyze the convergent validity, discriminant validity, goodness of fit, and hypothesis validation of the hockey participants’ involvement, flow experience, and happiness models. The results suggest that the 2022 National Chung-Cheng Cup Hockey Tournament participants’ involvement, flow experience, and happiness models had good convergent validity, discriminant validity, and goodness of fit. The involvement of hockey participants in the sport significantly influenced the flow experience (path coefficient of 0.818*). The flow experience had moderate to high explanatory power (R2 = 0.669). The involvement of hockey participants in the sport significantly affected happiness (path coefficient 0.215*), flow experience significantly affected happiness (path coefficient of 0.294*), and happiness had a moderate to high explanatory power (R2 = 0.236). We propose specific recommendations for hockey promotion organizations and future studies based on this study's results.

Enhancing User Experience on Social Media Platforms: A Flow Theory-Based Approach

In recent years, social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter have seen rapid growth and are favored by users of all ages. However, in the age of information overload, the quality of interactions on social media platforms varies significantly, leading to negative feelings among users and affecting their overall experience and loyalty. This study takes the Flow theory as its starting point and investigates the needs of social media users at various stages of the flow experience. We propose modifications to the flow theory model with the aim of enhancing user experience and satisfaction. Firstly, based on literature review, we identify micro-level issues of the product, propose hypotheses, and construct validation experiments in the context of social media. The experiment collects Electrodermal Activity (EDA) and heart rate variability (HRV) data of 31 participants using a multi-channel physiological instrument and collects their emotional experience data using the Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance (PAD) scale. Results indicate that a combined textual-graphical interface layout is superior to other layouts in positively inducing flow and emotional experiences. Positive content tonality is more effective at eliciting positive flow and emotional experiences than negative or neutral content. Video presentations have a stronger sense of immersion and emotional expression, making them more conducive to inducing flow experiences and positive emotional feedback. This study, grounded in user psychology, provides a theoretical framework based on flow and emotional experiences for social media product design, quantitatively examining the positive psychological activities of users when using social media.

What happens when flow ends? How and why your creativity is limited after a flow experience

What happens when flow ends? How and why your creativity is limited after a flow experience

Effects of VR technical interaction and acceptance on rural cultural identity: The mediating role of embodied cognition and flow experience

With the development of digital media, an increasing number of new technologies are being used in cultural communication, and virtual reality (VR) technology for cultural communication has become a modern tool of transmission. To investigate the factors that influence rural cultural identity (RCI) through technical interaction (TI) and technology acceptance (TA) in VR in cultural communication, this study initially constructed a model of the influence path mediated by embodied cognition (EC) and flow experience (FE) based on compensatory media, technology acceptance, embodied cognition and flow experience theory. All participants had experienced some rural historical and cultural VR work and then completed a corresponding questionnaire. A total of 356 questionnaires were collected and analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The results indicated that the technological interaction and acceptance of VR influenced identification with rural culture through the mediating role of embodied cognition and flow experience. These findings provide a reference for strengthening audiences' embodied cognition and flow experience to promote their rural cultural identity. When VR technology is used to communicate culture, its technological interaction and acceptance can be improved to provide audiences with a better experience and perhaps influence the development of local tourism.

A Psychometric Development and Evaluation of the Flow State Scale for Caregiving Tasks Among Clinical Nurses.

The extensive research already conducted in numerous non-healthcare disciplines has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of flow in alleviating work-related stress and boosting employee engagement in the workplace. Despite the potential benefits to nursing of improving flow, no valid instrument is currently available to measure the work-related flow experience of clinical nurses. This study was designed to develop the Flow State Scale for Caregiving Tasks (FSS-CT) and to evaluate its psychometric properties in the context of clinical nurses. This study, guided by the flow theory of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1975), employed a three-phase approach to developing and evaluating the psychometric properties of the FSS-CT. Five hundred thirty-six full-time clinical nurses working in hospitals of various levels in Taiwan were recruited via cluster random sampling to participate in an anonymous online survey. The content validity of the developed scale was established through expert panel verification, criterion-related validity was assessed by correlating the scale with the Work-related Flow Inventory, and construct validity was evaluated via explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses. Scale reliability was determined using Cronbach's α coefficient. The FSS-CT, a 12-item Likert scale comprising four domains, was developed. These domains capture the elements of nurses' work-related flow, including professional confidence, merging of action and awareness, balance between skill and challenge, and autotelic experience. The FSS-CT demonstrated high content validity (content validity index > .90) and satisfactory criterion-related validity (coefficient = .55, p < .001). Furthermore, the scale was found to have excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .91). Factor analyses yielded a four-factor structure accounting for 69.34% of the total variance, indicating a good fit for the final model based on recommended goodness-of-fit indices. The FSS-CT is a viable and dependable instrument for assessing the work-related flow experiences of nurses, with the measured outcomes offering to nursing administrators valuable insights into or directions for personnel development and work allocation initiatives.

Investigating the Relationship Between Dance Flow and Improvisation

This article explores the intrinsic connection between dance flow and improvisation, aiming to analyze dancers’ thinking and behavioral patterns in dance creation from a psychological perspective. The study points out that the application of flow theory in the field of dance is relatively scarce, while improvisation, as a core skill in dance art, requires dancers to create without preset conditions. The article begins with an overview of flow theory, emphasizing how the flow state facilitates dancers’ technical performance and creativity. It then analyzes the improvisational practices of professional dancers to reveal the positive interactive relationship between flow and improvisation. The research finds that dancers in a flow state are more likely to enter a state of improvisation, and improvisation itself can also stimulate the flow experience. The article concludes with a discussion on the role of dance flow and improvisation in dance education and performance practice, highlighting the importance of relational creativity in dance creation.

The Structural Relationship among Teacher-Student Interaction, Self-Efficacy, Flow Experience, and College Life Satisfaction in Liberal Arts Physical Education Classes

The Structural Relationship among Teacher-Student Interaction, Self-Efficacy, Flow Experience, and College Life Satisfaction in Liberal Arts Physical Education Classes

Updates on Caries Risk Assessment-A Literature Review.

This narrative review aims to provide an update on caries risk assessment (CRA) and the available CRA tools. CRA can be used to monitor the status of oral care, as well as for documentation and research purposes. Caries risk is determined by the interplay of risk and protective factors. Common risk factors include suboptimal oral hygiene practices, previous caries experience, low plaque acidity, frequent snacking, cariogenic diet, enamel defects, reduced salivary flow, polypharmacy, and radiotherapy experience. Caries risk can be reduced through some preventive measures, such as the use of fluoride, gum chewing, dental sealants. The CRA process can be categorized as single or multifactor tools. Single-factor CRA tools include diet analysis questionnaires, cariogenic bacteria testing and saliva testing kits, whereas multifactor CRA tools encompass Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA), Cariogram, and PreViser. Some CRA tools may quantify risk and protective factors to compute caries risk. Additionally, they can generate visual and educational presentations that foster success in oral care. Clinicians consider CRA beneficial for developing personalized care plans. However, the literature fails to reflect this and reveals limited studies supporting its use as evidence-based practice for caries management.

What drives customer engagement in fresh food omnichannel retailing? The role of omnichannel integration, flow experience, and customer relationship quality

What drives customer engagement in fresh food omnichannel retailing? The role of omnichannel integration, flow experience, and customer relationship quality

The Moderating Role of Interest in the Relationship between Perceived Task Difficulty and Invested Mental Effort

Including motivational variables such as interest in the cognitive load framework is an ongoing process. Of particular interest is the question of how motivational variables influence the investment of mental effort. In this study, we investigated how topic interest affects the investment of mental effort in simple tasks. A total of 1543 students’ judgments regarding invested mental effort, perceived task difficulty, and topic interest for 32 tasks of a chemistry test were analyzed at the task level based on item response theory parameters. Additionally, objective task difficulty was calculated. The Rasch parameters were used for correlation and moderated regression analyses. The results indicated that when perceived task difficulty was low, students invested more mental effort in solving tasks of low topic interest compared to tasks of high topic interest. With increasing perceived task difficulty, the amount of invested mental effort rose for tasks of low as well as high topic interest. However, the difference between tasks of low and high topic interest in the amount of invested mental effort decreased as perceived task difficulty increased and even vanished when perceived task difficulty roughly corresponded to students’ performance capability. These results are in line with flow theory and the expectancy-value-cost model of motivation. When solving tasks that match their performance capability, students can experience a flow situation. However, when solving rather easy tasks of low interest, students can experience motivational costs in terms of additional effort, such as an increased need for motivational self-regulation. The results of this study provide a basis for systematically investigating and better understanding the relationship between interest, task difficulty, invested mental effort, flow experience, and emotional costs.