ERIC Number: EJ1344093
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2155-6849
EISSN: EISSN-2155-6857
Examining Students' Perceived Competence, Gender, and Ethnicity in a Digital STEM Learning Game
Smith, Ginny; Fulwider, Curt; Liu, Zhichun; Lu, Xi; Shute, Valerie J.; Li, Jiawei
International Journal of Game-Based Learning, v12 n1 Article 13 2022
The present study explores how gender, ethnicity, and performance-based perceived competence impact students' learning, performance, and enjoyment from playing a digital STEM learning game. We had 199 9th-11th grade students play a 2D digital STEM learning game across six science classes. Based on the results of demographic surveys, matched pretests and posttests, and satisfaction questionnaires, we found no interaction between gender and ethnicity for performance-based perceived competence, performance, and enjoyment. We found a significant difference between males and females in performance-based perceived competence and in-game performance both favoring males over females. Among ethnic groups, we found a significant difference with in-game performance favoring White and Hispanic students over Black/African American students. However, the differences in gender and in ethnicity were insignificant once we controlled for both perceived competence and pretest scores. This supports the idea that neither race nor gender truly influence one's ability to perform in digital learning games.
Descriptors: STEM Education, Computer Games, Gender Differences, Ethnicity, Competence, High School Students, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Performance, Science Instruction, Student Attitudes, Whites, African American Students, Hispanic American Students, Physics, Asian American Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Grade 9; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Grade 10; Grade 11
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF); Department of Education (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: 037988; 039019