Self-determination theory in HCI: advancing the field
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Self-determination theory (SDT) has been widely successful in HCI. It offers ready concepts, measures, and theoretical propositions for third wave HCI topics like user experience, fun, wellbeing, motivation, or user autonomy. Still, HCI applications of SDT have been partial, at times superficial, and disconnecting– leaving great unfulfilled potential which motivated the present special issue. In this introduction, we present SDT to interested scholars; chart its use across HCI to date; and outline six advances to move HCI toward more intentional applications of SDT. As the articles from this issue illustrate, future growth areas of SDT in HCI are in extending domain-specific models and applications; harnessing underused parts of theory; computational formalisation; extending levels of analysis; facilitating design translation; and engaging in a cross-disciplinary dialogue on autonomy.
Date Issued
2026-05-01
Date Acceptance
2026-03-07
Citation
Interacting with computers, 2026, 38 (3), pp.331-341
ISSN
0953-5438
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Start Page
331
End Page
341
Journal / Book Title
Interacting with computers
Volume
38
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© TheAuthor(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Computer Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com
License URL
Identifier
10.1093/iwc/iwag019
Subjects
self-determination theory
motivation
wellbeing
user experience
human-computer interaction
theory use
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2026-04-01