Glossary term Retention
Self-Determination Theory
A well-established account of motivation holding that people thrive when three basic needs are met: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Support these and motivation becomes self-sustaining; thwart them and it stays fragile.
Where you see this in practice
The mechanics that lean on it
Retention08
Achievements / Milestones
Named, permanent markers of progress or behaviour that the user collects over time.
Retention10
XP / Leveling
An experience point system where users accumulate points through actions, eventually reaching level thresholds that unlock rewards or status.
21
Leaderboards
A ranked list of users or groups ordered by a performance metric, making individual standing visible and publicly comparable.