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RETRACTED ARTICLE: Impact of digital game-based learning on the social competence and behavior of preschoolers

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This article was retracted on 11 March 2023

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Abstract

Digital gaming has become a regular part of life for today’s pre-schoolers. Hence, there is a need to look at the integration of digital technology into the preschool education. The present study aims to examine the effect digital games have on children’s behaviour and their social competence if played to reach an educational purpose (supervised play) and for fun (without educational aim). The study population consists of 54 pre-schoolers (26 girls and 28 boys), aged 4 to 6, who were recruited in Moscow, Russia. All children were divided in two groups: children playing digital games with peers (n = 28) and children playing digital games at home (n = 28). The pre-schoolers’ social competence and behaviour were assessed before and after the experiment using the Social Competence and Behavior Identification (SCBE-30) questionnaire. Findings revealed a higher level of social competence in the experimental group (+11.71, p < 0.05) as compared to children playing without being told what they were expected to achieve. The experimental group also scored lower on Anxiety-Withdrawal (−7.94, p < 0.05). A higher Anxiety-Withdrawal score normally means that a child experiences some degree of depression or anxiety, and exhibits overly dependent behaviour. At the same time, a higher Social Competence score suggests that a child is more joyful, tolerant, socially integrated, calm, and willing to collaborate with peers and that he or she exhibits a prosocial behaviour. The results of this study may help parents and teachers to use digital learning tools, in particular video games, effectively when working with young children.

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Acknowledgements

Menglin Fang has been supported by Minxi Vocational & Technical College, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1 Kolmogorov Street, Moscow, Russian Federation, 119991

    Menglin Fang

  2. Minxi Vocational & Technical College, Longyan, China

    Menglin Fang

  3. Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

    Olga Tapalova & Nadezhda Zhiyenbayeva

  4. Russian State Social University, Moscow, Russian Federation

    Svetlana Kozlovskaya

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  1. Menglin Fang
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  2. Olga Tapalova
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  3. Nadezhda Zhiyenbayeva
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  4. Svetlana Kozlovskaya
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This is a co-authored paper, with equal contribution from the joint authors.

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Correspondence to Menglin Fang.

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The research was approved by the local ethics committees Lomonosov Moscow State University.

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This article has been retracted. Please see the retraction notice for more detail:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11713-9

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Fang, M., Tapalova, O., Zhiyenbayeva, N. et al. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Impact of digital game-based learning on the social competence and behavior of preschoolers. Educ Inf Technol 27, 3065–3078 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10737-3

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