| Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, Vol. 24, Iss. 4, Oct, 2020, pp. 403-429 @2020 Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology & Life Sciences Applying an Agent-based Model to Simulate Just-In-Time Support for Keeping Users of eLearning Courses Motivated Abstract: Persuasive technology can support users of self-paced eLearning courses during critical moments
of low motivation. Agent-based models (ABMs) - a relatively unfamiliar phenomenon within the
persuasive technology and eLearning domains- offers a potentially relevant methodology to understand
when the support should be delivered. Using ABMs, the dynamics of motivational user states can be simulated.
Subsequently, emerging user patterns can be traced that can potentially provide insight in the ebb and flow
of motivation. For the purpose of this study, we designed an exploratory ABM on motivation based
on the mental energy notion of which the foundations can be found both within the literature of
motivational psychology and agent-based modeling. During the simulations we succeeded in generating moments
of critically low user motivation. In addition, we were able to simulate the positive impact of
external user support at those critical moments. These results suggest that it is plausible to
put further energy in developing ABM models with the ultimate goal of feeding persuasive technology
with the ability to deliver just-in-time user support during eLearning. Keywords: agent-based model, simulation, self-learning motivation, eLearning, persuasive technology |