As language learning is a long-term process, it is important to find ways of sustaining learning motivation over time. One approach for addressing this problem is gamifying learning tasks. Gamification refers to the incorporation of gaming elements, such as uncertainty, in the learning process so that motivation can be sustained. The present study reports an intervention investigating the effectiveness of gamifying learning vocabulary using a smartphone app. After using the app for a month, the experimental group ( n = 102) outperformed the control group ( n = 83) in the posttest but not in a delayed posttest administered one month after the end of the experiment. The implications of the results are discussed in the context of implementing gamification to sustain learning motivation.

中文翻译：

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不确定性的动机：词汇学习游戏化

由于语言学习是一个长期的过程，因此找到长期维持学习动机的方法非常重要。解决这个问题的一种方法是将学习任务游戏化。游戏化是指在学习过程中融入游戏元素，例如不确定性，从而使学习动机得以持续。本研究报告了一项干预措施，调查使用智能手机应用程序游戏化学习词汇的有效性。使用该应用程序一个月后，实验组 (n = 102) 在后测中优于对照组 (n = 83)，但在实验结束一个月后进行的延迟后测中则不然。在实施游戏化以维持学习动机的背景下讨论了结果的含义。