The Relationship Between Students' Digital Game Addiction and Their Attitudes and Habits Towards Reading

Year 2024, Volume: 32 Issue: 3, 498 - 505, 31.07.2024

Şafak Kaman Aydın Bulut

https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.1525396

Abstract

Purpose: The aim is to determine the relationship between middle school students' levels of digital game addiction and their attitudes and habits towards reading.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used a correlational survey model. This model introduces a survey approach aimed at determining the co-variation between two or more variables. The sample group of the study consisted of 324 secondary school students enrolled in the educational year 2023-2024 in the Kaman district of Kırşehir province. Data were collected using the "Digital Game Addiction Scale" and the "Attitude and Habit Scale Towards Reading."
Findings: The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 21 software package. Upon examining the findings of the study, it was determined that as students' digital game addiction increased, their attitudes and habits towards reading decreased. Conversely, as digital game addiction decreased, attitudes and habits towards reading increased. Additionally, it was observed that the levels of digital game addiction were higher in male students compared to female students.
Highlights: The findings of this study, along with the literature review, indicate that whether they are children or adolescents, if digital games are not played in a controlled manner, it can lead to addiction. A child who has acquired digital game addiction may reduce the time allocated to their studies, start avoiding social environments, and may not be able to develop certain skills that would make them academically successful. It is crucial, especially for parents, to control the duration and type of digital games their children play.

Keywords

Digital game addiction, Reading attitude, Reading habits

References

• Aksel (2018), Investigation of the Relationship Between Digital Game Addiction and Self-Control and Social Tendencies of Secondary School Students (Master's Degree). Ordu University, Institute of Social Sciences. Ordu.
• Alvermann, D. E. (2002). Ergenler için etkili okuryazarlık öğretimi. Journal of Literacy Research, 34(2), 189-208.
• Aslan, H., Başcıllar, M. & Karataş, K. (2022). The Relationship Between Digital Game Addiction and Social Skills in Adolescents. Journal of Addiction, 23(3), 266-274.
• Ayas, T. (2012). The Relationship of High School Students' Internet and Computer Game Addiction Levels with Shyness. Educational Sciences in Rule and Practice, 12 (2), 627-663.
• Balcı, A. (2013). Reading and comprehension education. Ankara: Pegem Akademi Publications.
• Basaran. M. & Ateş, S. (2009). Investigation of fifth grade elementary school students' attitudes towards reading. Gazi University Gazi Education Faculty Journal. 29(1).
• Bhagat, S., Jeong, E. J. & Kim, D. J. (2020). Dijital Oyun Bağımlılığında Bireylerin Çevrimiçi Sosyal Etkileşim İhtiyacı ve Kişilerarası Yetersizliğin Rolü. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 36(5), 449-463.
• Büyüköztürk Ş. Data Analysis Handbook for Social Sciences Statistics, Research Design SPSS Applications and Interpretation. 18th Edition, Ankara: Pegem Publishing, 2013.
• Çavuş, S., Ayhan, B. & Tuncer, M. (2016). Computer Games and Addiction: A Field Study on University Students. Journal of Communication Theory and Research, 43, 265-289.
• Deniz, S. & Tuna, S. (2006). Primary school students' attitudes towards Turkish course: Köyceğiz. Sample. Journal of National Education, 170, 339-345.
• Erboy, E. & Akar Vural R., (2010). Factors Affecting Computer Game Addiction of Primary School 4th and 5th Grade Students. Aegean Journal of Education, (11) 1: 39-58.
• Ergür, G. (2015). Investigation of Aggression Tendencies and Self-Esteem Levels of Second Level Students Playing Computer Games with Violent Content (Master's Thesis). Istanbul Arel University, Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul.
• Evcin, S. (2010). Bilgisayar Oyunlarının İlköğretim İkinci Kademe Öğrencilerinin Saldırganlık Eğilimine Etkinin İncelenmesi (Master's Thesis). Maltepe University, Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul.
• Gökçearslan Ş. & Durakoğlu A., (2014). Investigation of Computer Game Addiction Levels of Secondary School Students According to Various Variables. Journal of Dicle University Ziya Gökalp Faculty of Education, 23(2014) 419-435.
• Gürer, N. (2013). Examining the attitudes of 3rd grade primary school students towards reading according to various variables. Unpublished Master's Thesis. Pamukkale University Institute of Educational Sciences, Denizli.
• Hazar, E. & Hazar, Z. (2019). Digital game addiction scale for university students (Adaptation study). Journal of Sport Sciences Research, 4(2), 308-322.
• Hazar, Z. & Hazar, M. (2017). Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children. Journal of Human Sciences, 14(1), 203-216.
• Hood, N.C. (2015). Under which conditions does reading attitude most influence reading achievement? Doctoral dissertation, The Temple University Graduate Board, Philadelphia, USA
• Horzum, M. B. (2011). Investigation of computer game addiction levels of primary school students according to various variables. Education and Science, 36(159), 57-68.
• Karasar N. Scientific Research Methods. 35th Edition, Ankara: Nobel Publications, 2020
• Kars, B. G. (2010). The effect of violent computer games on aggressiveness in children. Unpublished Master's Thesis. Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Kılıç, K. M. (2019). Relationships Between Digital Game Addiction, Bullying Cognitions and Empathy Levels in Adolescents. İlköğretim Online, 18(2), 546-562.
• Kıran, Ö. (2011). The Effects of Violent Computer Games on Secondary School Youth (Samsun Sample), Samsun Provincial Directorate of National Education, Samsun Symposium 2011 Proceeding.
• Koçak, H. & Köse, Z. (2014). A research on adolescents' computer game playing habits and socialization processes: The case of Kütahya province. Dumlupınar University Journal of Social Sciences, Special Issue, 21-32.
• Köse, Z. (2013). Investigation of 13-14 Age Group Ergenlerin Bilgisayar Oyunları Oynama Alışkanlıklarının ve Sosyalleşme Durumlarının Araştırılması (Kütahya Province Example) (Master's Thesis). Afyon Kocatepe University, Institute of Social Sciences, Afyonkarahisar.
• Martinez-Garza, M. M., Clark, D. B., Killingsworth, S. S., & Adams, D. M. (2016). Beyond Fun: Pintrich, Motivation to Learn, and Games for Learning Handbook of Research on Gaming Trends in P-12 Education (pp. 1-32): IGI Global.
• Öndeş, K. M., & Kılıç, R. (2022). How much digital gaming addiction affects mathematics achievement? HAYEF: Journal of Education, 19(3), 216-221.
• Özdil, B., G., & Demir, S. (2020). Developing an attitude and habit scale towards reading: Reliability and validity study. Bayburt Education Faculty Journal, 15(30), 528-547.
• Şahin, G., Demir, T., Kümüş, Ö., & Kepenek, N. (2022). Investigating the relationship between computer game addiction and attitudes towards reading in fourth grade primary school students. Rumeli Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi, (1), 24-39.
• Tuncay, B. & Göger, B. (2021). Investigation of the Relationship Between Digital Game Addiction and Sleep Quality in Adolescents. Journal of Turkish Sleep Medicine, 9:79-84.
• Ürün Karahan, B. (2015). The relationship between 5th and 6th grade students' attitudes and motivations towards reading and their reading comprehension skills. Doctoral Thesis. Atatürk University Institute of Educational Sciences, Erzurum.
• Weinstein, A. M. (2010). Computer and Video Game Addiction: A Comparison between Game Users and Non-Game Users. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 268-276.
• Yıldız, M., & Kaman, Ş. (2016). Examining the reading and writing attitudes of primary school (2nd-6th grade) students. Turkish Journal of Social Research, 507.