Analysis of Duolingo Users’ Discussion About Digital Badges: A Case Study
Merit Badges
Demerit Badges
Micro-Credentials
AKA “Heavyweight” Badges
(West and Randall, 2016)
Lightweight Badges
Duolingo subreddit
/r/duolingo
User Experience Research Methods
Buley, L. (2018). Bootcamp for the UX team of one.
How are Duolingo users discussing their interactions with the app’s gamified elements, specifically the daily streak and skill tree?
Guiding Question
Findings about �the daily streak
spickydickydoo: I do everything to not lose that streak.
blargh37: It's a good feeling to keep a streak going for so long.
chattentooga: I continually come back to keep that streak going.
Sustaining the streak became the main source of motivation for users.
Users expressed dwindling motivation after losing their streak. Some have even quit the app, but later returned less motivated.
TerkRockerfeller: lost my 20 day streak…just don't feel like doing it
wraithscelu: …lost my streak, and quit shortly afterwards.
k4kuz07: lost almost all motivation because I had to start my streak again
Findings about the skill tree
Users leverage the skill tree to self-regulate their learning.
skill tree
Users expressed frustrations with the skill tree’s decay rate.
skill tree
Using the app alone is insufficient for language mastery.
electronic_sackbut: No, finishing a tree will not bring you anywhere near fluency.
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