IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Suna Utar Özkan; Sevilay Şahin; Zarife Pancar

doi:10.55020/iojpe.1780729

IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Abstract

This study explores the influence of traditional Turkish games on the development of creative and critical thinking in primary school students. These traditional games, now at risk of disappearing, may hold untapped educational potential. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, interviews with 12 primary school teachers identified themes indicating that such games foster critical thinking, analytical ability, mathematical reasoning, creativity, confidence, teamwork, and strategic planning. These qualitative insights guided a quasi-experimental study with 79 fourth-grade students: an experimental group (39 students engaged in traditional games) and a control group (40 students with regular activities). The intervention involved 40-minute sessions, four days a week for eight weeks. Pretest scores showed no significant differences between groups, but posttests revealed marked improvements in the experimental group. These results suggest that integrating traditional games into classroom settings can be an effective alternative to conventional teaching for promoting critical thinking.

Keywords

Traditional games, critical thinking, creative thinking, play-based learning.

Ethical Statement

This study adhered to strict Research Ethics Guidelines and was conducted in accordance with ethical principles. Ethics committee approval was obtained from Gaziantep University (decision dated 09/08/2024, number 529740). Participants' confidentiality and rights were protected, with informed consent secured before participation. Data collection and analysis followed university guidelines, supporting the trustworthiness of the findings. The authors declare that they acted in accordance with ethical rules in all processes of the research. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Primary Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Suna Utar Özkan ^*
0000-0002-3246-039X
Türkiye

Sevilay Şahin
0000-0002-7140-821X
Türkiye

Zarife Pancar
0000-0002-1659-2157
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

September 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 21, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1780729

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA43DE63AT

APA

Utar Özkan, S., Şahin, S., & Pancar, Z. (2025). IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY. International Online Journal of Primary Education, 14(4), 239-261. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1780729

AMA

1.Utar Özkan S, Şahin S, Pancar Z. IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2025;14(4):239-261. doi:10.55020/iojpe.1780729

Chicago

Utar Özkan, Suna, Sevilay Şahin, and Zarife Pancar. 2025. “IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY”. International Online Journal of Primary Education 14 (4): 239-61. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1780729.

EndNote

Utar Özkan S, Şahin S, Pancar Z (December 1, 2025) IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY. International Online Journal of Primary Education 14 4 239–261.

IEEE

[1]S. Utar Özkan, S. Şahin, and Z. Pancar, “IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY”, Int. Online J. Prim. Educ., vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 239–261, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.55020/iojpe.1780729.

ISNAD

Utar Özkan, Suna - Şahin, Sevilay - Pancar, Zarife. “IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY”. International Online Journal of Primary Education 14/4 (December 1, 2025): 239-261. https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1780729.

JAMA

1.Utar Özkan S, Şahin S, Pancar Z. IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2025;14:239–261.

MLA

Utar Özkan, Suna, et al. “IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY”. International Online Journal of Primary Education, vol. 14, no. 4, Dec. 2025, pp. 239-61, doi:10.55020/iojpe.1780729.

Vancouver

1.Suna Utar Özkan, Sevilay Şahin, Zarife Pancar. IMPACT OF TRADITIONAL GAMES ON CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MIXED-METHODS STUDY. Int. Online J. Prim. Educ. 2025 Dec. 1;14(4):239-61. doi:10.55020/iojpe.1780729

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