A Scoping Review of Flow Research

Peifer, Corinna; Wolters, Gina; Harmat, László; Heutte, Jean; Tan, Jasmine; Freire, Teresa; Tavares, Dionísia; Fonte, Carla; Andersen, Frans Ørsted; Hout, Jef van den; Šimleša, Milija; Pola, Linda; Ceja, Lucia; Triberti, Stefano

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.815665

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 278 publications

(443 reference statements)

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“…However, the other antecedents of flow are nuanced and many definitions of flow include a number of preconditions that expand beyond understanding if an individual is focused (e.g., is the individual adequately challenged?, are there clear goals?, etc.) [27,28]. Focus time represents a first step towards developing a non-intrusive behavioral metric that is capable of handling the nuance of detecting flow.…”

Section: Discussion 61 Validating a Behavioral Metric Of Flow And Focusmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using Logs Data to Identify When Software Engineers Experience Flow or Focused Work

Brown

D'Angelo

Holtz

et al. 2023

Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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Beyond self-report data, we lack reliable and non-intrusive methods for identifying flow. However, taking a step back and acknowledging that flow occurs during periods of focus gives us the opportunity to make progress towards measuring flow by isolating focused work. Here, we take a mixed-methods approach to design a logs-based metric that leverages machine learning and a comprehensive collection of logs data to identify periods of related actions (indicating focus), and validate this metric against self-reported time in focus or flow using diary data and quarterly survey data. Our results indicate that we can determine when software engineers at a large technology company experience focused work which includes instances of flow. This metric speaks to engineering work, but can be leveraged in other domains to non-disruptively measure when people experience focus. Future research can build upon this work to identify signals associated with other facets of flow. CCS CONCEPTS• Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in HCI.

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Section: Discussion 61 Validating a Behavioral Metric Of Flow And Focusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…measure, and facilitate flow in peoples' lives. An extensive literature exists concerning how people experience flow and what factors correlate with these experiences [27,28]. A majority of flow research relies on methods employing self-report to understand how and when people experience flow (e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Logs Data to Identify When Software Engineers Experience Flow or Focused Work

Brown

D'Angelo

Holtz

et al. 2023

Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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“…These results are important in the learning context where the four properties of the perceived restorativeness quality play a relevant role for students in improving their concentration (i.e., flow) and academic success [ 40 ]. Specifically, students may experience a state of flow [ 79 , 82 ]—which is characterized by a balance between skills (or resources) and challenges (or demands)—when they have access to environmental resources at their place of learning. As shown by previous studies [ 11 , 13 ], the restorativeness properties of the environment or high resources balance the job demands of the learning context allowing psychological restoration of those resources that are depleted when individuals work and study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent meta-analysis [ 82 ] confirmed that flow had a positive association with many motivational indicators, such as volition, engagement, goal orientation, achievement motive, interest, and intrinsic motivation, and with emotional aspects and performance (because individuals are highly concentrated). Thus, we also expect a positive effect of motivation on flow.…”

Section: Theoretical Background and Hypotheses Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of a Restorative Resource in the Academic Context in Improving Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation and Flow within the Job Demands–Resources Model

Bellini

Barbieri

Barattucci

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The perceived quality of the learning environment may influence both motivation and concentration. Little is known about how perceived characteristics of the learning environment, and specifically sub-dimensions of Perceived Restorativeness (being away, fascination, compatibility, and extent), can promote these positive effects in an academic context. We addressed, through a correlational study, the possibility that the characteristics of learning environments may promote concentration and involvement in activity (i.e., flow) via intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for academic study within the job demands–resources model. A total of 165 Italian university psychology classes in a 3-year degree course from two different universities context completed an online questionnaire made up of the construct considered in this study. Results in the hierarchical multivariate regression analyses confirm that the restorative quality of learning environments (i.e., being away, compatibility, extent) is positively correlated with flow. However, there is a non-significant relationship between extent and flow. Regression analyses show a significant indirect effect of compatibility, both through intrinsic and extrinsic student motivation. Furthermore, the results confirm a significant indirect effect of extent through intrinsic motivation and being away, and fascination through Extrinsic motivation. Furthermore, intrinsic motivation is a full mediator between the extent and flow relationship. The results underline the importance of considering the restorative quality of the environment for improving place design, concentration, and student learning motivation.

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“…In a recent collection of commentaries and articles on flow, Peifer and Engeser (2021a, b) concluded that "a gold standard for the modelling and measurement of flow is not at close reach" (p. 61). In reflection of recent research, Peifer et al (2022) proposed a core experience of flow can be considered. Taken together, the critiques provided by these authors collectively highlight the need for researchers to re-consider issues of definition and conceptualization of flow, and then devise an (or highlight an existing) appropriate instrument that assesses any theoretical advancements regarding the flow construct.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Flow Scale (PFS): Development and Preliminary Validation of a New Flow Instrument that Measures the Core Experience of Flow to Reflect Recent Conceptual Advancements

Norsworthy

Dimmock

Miller

et al. 2023

Int J Appl Posit Psychol

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In this study, we sought to develop—and provide preliminary validity evidence for scores derived from—a new Psychological Flow Scale (PFS). We propose a parsimonious model of three core dimensions of flow, reflecting the findings from a recent scoping review that synthesised flow research across scientific disciplines. The validation process for the PFS addressed recent conceptual criticisms of flow science regarding construct validity, theoretical compatibility, relational ambiguity, and definitional inconsistency. An initial review and analysis of the many flow measurements that exist found that these instruments either assess one, some, or none of the three core-dimensions of flow; often measuring similar dimensions that may bear resemblance to one of the three-dimensions but differ in dimensional meaning. PFS item development involved a phase of theoretical scrutiny, review of existing instruments, item generation, and expert review of items. Subsequently, 936 participants were recruited for scale development purposes, which included sample testing, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. This factor analytic process showed evidence for three distinguishable dimensions ‘under’ a single general or higher-order factor (i.e., global flow). With respect to external aspects of validity, flow scores correlated positively with perceptions of competence, self-rated performance, autotelic personality, and negatively with anxiety and stress scores. In conclusion, we present preliminary evidence for the theoretical and operational suitability of the PFS to assess the flow state across scientific disciplines and activity domains that be useful for experimental research and enable comparative flow research in the future.

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A Scoping Review of Flow Research

Cited by 22 publications

References 278 publications

Using Logs Data to Identify When Software Engineers Experience Flow or Focused Work

Using Logs Data to Identify When Software Engineers Experience Flow or Focused Work

The Role of a Restorative Resource in the Academic Context in Improving Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation and Flow within the Job Demands–Resources Model

Psychological Flow Scale (PFS): Development and Preliminary Validation of a New Flow Instrument that Measures the Core Experience of Flow to Reflect Recent Conceptual Advancements

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