THE EFFECTS OF COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMING AS PLAY EFFECTS ON ELEMENTARY STUDENTS' COGNITIVE PROCESSES AND LEARNING ACHIEVEMENTS IN TAIWAN

Open Access
- Author:
- Chuang, Tsung-Yen
- Graduate Program:
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- January 11, 2006
- Committee Members:
- Thomas Daniel Yawkey, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Robert F Nicely Jr., Committee Member
Brian K Smith, Committee Member
Edgar Paul Yoder, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Child's Play
Computer Games
Instructional Technology
MANOVA
Taiwan - Abstract:
- This experimental study investigated the effects of computer and video game playing on students¡¦ cognitive learning achievement. A subsidiary purpose included determination of the effect of prior knowledge on student¡¦s learning performance. This study employed a 2 X 2 factorial design. The independent variables were (1) different types of instructional treatments (the computer-assisted instruction versus computer and video game playing) and (2) students¡¦ prior examination scores (high score versus low score in ¡§Nature and Technology¡¨ examination). The dependent variables used in the study were the outcome of participants¡¦ post-test scores and the results of the three sub-categories in the post-test. One hundred and thirty-six third-grade students from Chunghsueh Elementary School in Tainan, Taiwan were recruited to participate in this study. Two different instructional materials were used in this study: a plain text hypertext format and a computer game. One post-test was used to assess participants¡¦ learning achievements of different instructional treatments. The results from a two-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that playing computer and video games was determined to be more effective significantly in facilitating participants¡¦ average learning outcome than plain text computer-assisted instruction. The findings from this study provide experimental evidence to support the notion that the use of computer games facilitates students¡¦ cognitive learning process. In addition, its multimedia functionality and instructional capability should be considered as much as CAI programs.