Variable reward

Variable reward is a principle borrowed from behavioral psychology that involves providing rewards on a variable schedule to encourage engagement and sustained interest. In UX design, this can be applied to create more engaging and addictive user experiences.

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Implications of this principle

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• Surprise rewards: Offer unexpected rewards to users to keep them engaged and curious.
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• Personalized incentives: Use data to personalize rewards, making them more relevant and motivating for users.
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• Balanced reward systems: Design reward systems that balance predictability with variability to maintain interest without leading to frustration.
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• Progressive challenges: Introduce challenges that increase in difficulty, with corresponding rewards to encourage skill development and sustained engagement.
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• Feedback loops: Provide immediate feedback on actions that lead to rewards, reinforcing desired behaviors. Read more on this UX principle

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Desired effect

Implementing a variable reward system aims to increase user engagement and motivation by leveraging the power of unpredictability and personal relevance. This approach keeps the user experience fresh and exciting, encouraging users to return and engage with the product repeatedly. The goal is to create a compelling and rewarding experience that users want to be a part of over the long term.

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Summary

Variable reward is a powerful UX principle that uses unpredictability and personalization to drive engagement and loyalty. By carefully designing reward systems, UX designers can create addictive and satisfying experiences that users are drawn to repeatedly.