African Educational Research Journal Special Issue 8(1) - Full Length Research Paper - Analysis of the Relationship Between Digital Game Playing Motivation and Physical Activity

Q: What is the main purpose of the study?

To determine elementary students’ motivation for participating in physical activity and their motivation for digital game playing, and to analyze how these are related.

Q: Which tools were used to collect data?

The study used the Digital Game Playing Motivation Scale (DGPMS) and the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS).

Q: What statistical tests were applied to analyze the data?

Kolmogorov-Smirnov was used for normality, while t-tests and ANOVA were used for independent samples.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford

Participation of children in physical activity has declined while interest in digital games has increased with internet and technology development. This study examined motivation for physical activity and digital game playing among 379 elementary students using the Digital Game Playing Motivation Scale (DGPMS) and the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS). Normality was assessed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and group differences were tested with t-tests and ANOVA, revealing associations with age, gender, success, and daily play.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Physical activity benefits and health risks

Digital games and motivation factors

Study results and conclusions

African Educational Research Journal Special Issue 8(1), pp. S9-S16, July 2020 DOI: 10. 30918/AERJ. 8S1 .20.002 ISSN: 2354-2160 Full Length Research Paper Analysis of the relationship between digital game playing motivation and physical activity Mehmet Şirin Güler1* and Ergün Çakır2 1Sarıkamış School of Physical 2School of Physical Education Education and Sport, Kafkas University, Turkey. and Sport, Bitlis Eren University, Turkey. | ABSTRACT
Participation of children in physical activity has decreased and the interest in digital games has increased in recent years as a result of development of internet and technological devices. This research has been done in order to determine the motivation of elementary school students for participating in physical activity and digital game motivation. The study group of the research consists of 379 students (197 female students, 182 male students) . In the research, "Digital Game Playing Motivation Scale (DGPMS)" and"Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale ( PALMS)" have been used as data collection tools. Kolmogorov Smirnov Test has been used for normality distribution of data. T-Test and ANOVA test have been used for independent samples. In the study, the total physical activity average of primary school students is 56.98 ± 10.79. This average indicates that the sample's physical activity level is high (49-64) . On the other hand, the level of digital game play is moderate with an average of 56.73 ± 10.90. Physical activity level has showed significant difference according to age, gender, success, daily digital game play time and daily physical activity level (p < 0.05) . Daily digital game scores have showed a significant difference according to age and class level (p < 0.05) . A statistically significant and positive correlation has been found between the individual curiosity factor of physical activity motivation and the social acceptance factor of curiosity and digital game motivation (r = 0. 104; p < 0.05) . In conclusions: Results of regression analysis has proved that age, success, daily digital playing time and daily physical activity levels have significantly contribution to the motivation of physical activity (p < 0.05) . These results display that playing daily digital games significantly affects physical activity motivation.
Keywords: Digital game, physical activity, primary school, motivation. | | --- | | *Corresponding [author. E-mail: mehmet.guler@kafkas.edu.tr. Tel:](author. E-mail: mehmet.guler@kafkas.edu.tr. Tel:) +905336546809. | INTRODUCTİON Physical activity is often described as the most effective way to be healthy. There are many benefits from lowering blood pressure on the human body, weight loss, cardiovascular development, muscular endurance, immunity to diseases, and prevention of ailments related to old age (Batoulia and Saba, 2017; Bek, 2008) . Physical activity is an integral part of normal growth and development for all young people. Physical activity hasan important role in an individual's physical, psychological and mental development (Hills et al. , 2007) . Risks associated with chronic diseases begin in childhood and increase with age. It is known that physical inactivity generates a serious health risk for children and adolescents (Demirel et al. , 2014) . Physical activity is an important component that supports physical, emotional, social, motor and mental development by providing energy balance and healthy life through the activation of the human body (Demir and Cicioğlu, 2018) . Sport is one of the activities performed to protect people from disease and stay healthy (Aygün and Ünal, 2020) . Digital games are games that are played on computers, game consoles, and mobile phones (Rideout, et al. , 2010) after programming with various technologies, and prepared by visual access and user input (Çetin, 2013) . Digital games have become one of the most important pursuits of the new generation, called digital native i

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the study?

To determine elementary students’ motivation for participating in physical activity and their motivation for digital game playing, and to analyze how these are related.

Which tools were used to collect data?

The study used the Digital Game Playing Motivation Scale (DGPMS) and the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS).

What statistical tests were applied to analyze the data?

Kolmogorov-Smirnov was used for normality, while t-tests and ANOVA were used for independent samples.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford