Youth and Video Games: Exploring Effects on Learning and Engagement
Abstract
Recent research suggests that video games and social media may influence youths’ lives in ways that deserve attention from psychologists, mathematics educators, and learning scientists. For example, positive effects on engagement, which can increase probability of mathematics proficiency, have been reported in the literature. We examine this issue with emphasis on the effects of video game play on youth learning and engagement; what features, attributes, and mechanisms of video games have been identified as most salient for these factors; and how scholarship in the domain might design more rigorous studies to determine the effects of video game play on learning, achievement, and engagement. We include a description of our work developing educational games for middle school youth struggling to become algebra-ready.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The use of attractive narratives and technical resources present in videogames can increase students' motivation to learn and their levels of engagement.
“The use of attractive narratives and technical resources that are present in videogames can increase the motivation of the student to learn, increasing levels of engagement, which ensures involvement in a game.”
From Serious Games and Their Effect Improving Attention in Students with Learning Disabilities (2019) · cites this paper as [27]
Serious game activities are motivationally challenging while simultaneously offering students a fun learning experience.
“An important aspect to explain the positive effects reported in these studies is the fact that SG activities are motivationally challenging while simultaneously offering the students a fun learning experience.”
From Serious Games and Their Effect Improving Attention in Students with Learning Disabilities (2019) · cites this paper as [27]
Cites
Software engineering: A practitioner's approach
(1983) · Advances in Engineering Software (1978) · doi:10.1016/0141-1195(83)90118-3 · Cited by 8,227 · see citing works
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
(2006) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.44-2397 · Cited by 7,804 · see citing works
What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy
(2004) · Education + Training · doi:10.1108/et.2004.00446dae.002 · Cited by 6,674 · see citing works
Self-discipline outdoes IQ in predicting academic performance of adolescents.
Duckworth, A. L., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2005) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01641.x · Cited by 2,253 · see citing works
Schell, J., & Schell, J. (2008) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9780080919171 · Cited by 1,902 · see citing works
Blair, C. (2002) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037//0003-066x.57.2.111 · Cited by 1,893 · see citing works
Blair, C. (2002) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.57.2.111 · Cited by 1,874 · see citing works
Digital game-based learning: Towards an experiential gaming model
Kiili, K. (2005) · The Internet and Higher Education · doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2004.12.001 · Cited by 1,457 · see citing works
Digital Game-Based Learning: It's Not Just the Digital Natives Who Are Restless.
Eck, R. N. V. (2006) · UND Scholarly Commons (University of North Dakota) · Cited by 1,179 · see citing works
Handbook of research design in mathematics and science education
(2000) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.38-2281 · Cited by 1,122 · see citing works
From Content to Context: Videogames as Designed Experience
Squire, K. (2006) · Educational Researcher · doi:10.3102/0013189x035008019 · Cited by 1,091 · see citing works
The Zone of Proximal Development in Vygotsky's Analysis of Learning and Instruction
Chaiklin, S. (2003) · Vygotsky's Educational Theory in Cultural Context · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511840975.004 · Cited by 1,055 · see citing works
Vygotsky's Educational Theory in Cultural Context
(2003) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511840975 · Cited by 1,007 · see citing works
Academic self‐concept and academic achievement: Relations and causal ordering
Marsh, H. W., & Martin, A. J. (2011) · British Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1348/000709910x503501 · Cited by 975 · see citing works
Computer Gaming and Interactive Simulations for Learning: A Meta-Analysis
Vogel, J. J., Vogel, D. S., Cannon‐Bowers, J. A., Bowers, C. A., Muse, K., & Wright, M. (2006) · Journal of Educational Computing Research · doi:10.2190/flhv-k4wa-wpvq-h0ym · Cited by 941 · see citing works
Our Princess Is in Another Castle
Young, M. F., Slota, S. T., Cutter, A. B., Jalette, G., Mullin, G., Lai, B., Simeoni, Z., Tran, M. T., & Yukhymenko–Lescroart, M. A. (2012) · Review of Educational Research · doi:10.3102/0034654312436980 · Cited by 737 · see citing works
What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy
Lowenthal, P. R., Lee, C., Connors, S. C., & O’Reilly, L. (2007) · Cited by 735 · see citing works
Rosas, R., Nussbaum, M., Cumsille, P., Marianov, V., Correa, M., Flores, P., Grau, V., Lagos, F., López, X., López, V., et al. (2003) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/s0360-1315(02)00099-4 · Cited by 699 · see citing works
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention
(2020) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003048916 · Cited by 653 · see citing works
Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out: Kids Living and Learning with New Media
Ito, M., Antin, J., Finn, M., Law, A., Manion, A., Mitnick, S., Schlossberg, D., & Yardi, S. (2009) · Project Muse (Johns Hopkins University) · doi:10.14507/er.v0.1348 · Cited by 635 · see citing works
A case study of computer gaming for math: Engaged learning from gameplay?
Ke, F. (2008) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2008.03.003 · Cited by 497 · see citing works
(2003) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 467 · see citing works
Posner, M. I., & Rothbart, M. K. (2007) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/11519-000 · Cited by 441 · see citing works
The Ecology of Games: Connecting Youth, Games and Learning
Jordan, T. (2009) · Information Communication & Society · doi:10.1080/13691180802552890 · Cited by 429 · see citing works
Simon, M. A., & Tzur, R. (2004) · Mathematical Thinking and Learning · doi:10.1207/s15327833mtl0602_2 · Cited by 411 · see citing works
Learning science through computer games and simulations
(2012) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.49-3391 · Cited by 401 · see citing works
Radical Equations: Civil Rights from Mississippi to the Algebra Project
Moses, R., & Cobb, C. E. (2001) · Cited by 399 · see citing works
Children's Fractional Knowledge
Steffe, L. P., & Olive, J. (2009) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0591-8 · Cited by 355 · see citing works
Participatory IT Design: Designing for Business and Workplace Realities
Bødker, K., Kensing, F., & Simonsen, J. (2004) · Cited by 346 · see citing works
The ecology of games : connecting youth, games, and learning
Salen, K. (2008) · Cited by 326 · see citing works
Gameplaying for maths learning: cooperative or not?
Ke, F., & Grabowski, B. L. (2006) · British Journal of Educational Technology · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2006.00593.x · Cited by 323 · see citing works
Domain specificity of spatial expertise: the case of video game players
Sims, V. K., & Mayer, R. E. (2001) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.759 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Concrete Manipulatives, Concrete Ideas
Clements, D. H. (2000) · Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood · doi:10.2304/ciec.2000.1.1.7 · Cited by 282 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Such design features also incorporate aspects of virtual manipulatives (Clements, 1999), which enable students to physically enact mental actions in new ways.”
BackgroundNew Digital Media and Learning as an Emerging Area and "Worked Examples" as One Way Forward
Gee, J. P. (2009) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/8563.001.0001 · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Motivational engagement and video gaming: a mixed methods study
Hoffman, B. H., & Nadelson, L. S. (2009) · Educational Technology Research and Development · doi:10.1007/s11423-009-9134-9 · Cited by 263 · see citing works
Embedding game-based problem-solving phase into problem-posing system for mathematics learning
Chang, K., Wu, L.-J., Weng, S.-E., & Sung, Y. (2011) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2011.10.002 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Bødker, K., Kensing, F., & Simonsen, J. (2004) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/5249.001.0001 · Cited by 219 · see citing works
(2016) · The SAGE Encyclopedia of Online Education · doi:10.4135/9781483318332.n126 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
A "Pac-Man" theory of motivation: Tactical implications for classroom instruction.
Bowman, R. F. (1982) · Educational Technology archive · Cited by 199 · see citing works
On evaluating curricular effectiveness judging the quality of K-12 mathematics evaluations
Confrey, J., Stohl, V., & National Research Council (U.S.) (n.d.) · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Learning Science Through Computer Games and Simulations
National Research Council (2011) · National Academies Press eBooks · doi:10.17226/13078 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Suh, J., Moyer, P. S., & Heo, H.-J. (2005) · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Oblinger, D. G. (2006) · The EDUCAUSE quarterly/EDUCAUSE quarterly · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Computer Games for the Math Achievement of Diverse Students
Kim, S., & Chang, M. (2010) · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Self-citationVideo Games for Children and Adolescents With Special Educational Needs
Durkin, K., Boyle, J. M. E., Hunter, S. C., & Conti‐Ramsden, G. (2013) · Zeitschrift für Psychologie · doi:10.1027/2151-2604/a000138 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Alternative goal structures for computer game-based learning
Ke, F. (2008) · International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning · doi:10.1007/s11412-008-9048-2 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Personality and enjoyment of computer game play
Fang, X., & Zhao, F. (2010) · Computers in Industry · doi:10.1016/j.compind.2009.12.005 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Engagement States and Learning from Educational Games
Deater-Deckard, K. D., Chang, M., & Evans, M. A. (2013) · New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development · doi:10.1002/cad.20028 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Self-citationPreparing Instructional Designers for Game-Based Learning: Part 1
Atsusi Hirumi, B. A. (2010) · TechTrends · doi:10.1007/s11528-010-0400-9 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
An approach to participatory instructional design in secondary education: an exploratory study
Könings, K., Brand-Gruwel, S., & van Merriënboer, J. V. (2010) · Educational Research · doi:10.1080/00131881003588204 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Creating Electronic Learning Environments: Games, Flow, and the User Interface.
Jones, M. G. (1998) · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Olive, J., & Vomvoridi, E. (2005) · The Journal of Mathematical Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.jmathb.2005.11.003 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Children's Sense of Self: Learning and Meaning in the Digital Age
Dodge, T., Barab, S. A., Stuckey, B., Warren, S., Heiselt, C., & Stein, R. A. (2008) · The Journal of Interactive Learning Research · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Exploring the Learning Mechanism in Educational Games
Kiili, K. J. M., & Ketamo, H. (2007) · ITI ... · doi:10.1109/iti.2007.4283796 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Computer Tools for Interactive Mathematical Activity in the Elementary School
Olive, J. (2000) · International Journal of Computers for Mathematical Learning · doi:10.1023/a:1009813723928 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
The Nature and Role of Algebra in the K-14 Curriculum
National Research Council (1998) · National Academies Press eBooks · doi:10.17226/6286 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Close, J. J., Rudd, W. G. A., & Plimmer, F. (1974) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Ritzhaupt, A. D., Higgins, H. J., & Allred, B. (2011) · The Journal of Interactive Learning Research · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Exploring the Learning Mechanism in Educational Games
Kiili, K. J. M., & Ketamo, H. (2007) · Journal of Computing and Information Technology · doi:10.2498/cit.1001139 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Effects of a 3-D video game on middle school student achievement and attitude in mathematics
Gillispie, L. B. (2009) · NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Formative Research for STEM Educational Games
Sherry, J. L. (2013) · Zeitschrift für Psychologie · doi:10.1027/2151-2604/a000134 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Gillispie, L., Martin, F., & Parker, M. A. (2009) · Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Development of temperament and attention: Behavioral genetic approaches
Deater-Deckard, K. D., & Wang, Z. (2012) · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationAtkinson, T., & Hirumi, A. “. C. (2010) · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Supporting Students' Constructions of Fractions Schemes: Is There an App for That, Too?
Norton, A., Wilkins, J. L. M., & Boyce, S. (2012) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
2 of the 67 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Serious Games and Their Effect Improving Attention in Students with Learning Disabilities
García-Redondo, P., García, T., Areces, D., Núñez, J. C., & Rodríguez, C. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph16142480 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Blumberg, F. C., Deater-Deckard, K., Calvert, S. L., Flynn, R. M., Green, C. S., Arnold, D., & Brooks, P. J. (2019) · Child Policy Nexus · doi:10.1002/sop2.3 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Self-citationFinke, E. H., Hickerson, B. D., & McLaughlin, E. A. (2015) · Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools · doi:10.1044/2015_lshss-13-0080 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Developing Serious Video Games to Treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Tutorial Guide
Sújar, A., Martín-Moratinos, M., Rodrigo-Yanguas, M., Bella-Fernández, M., González, C., Delgado‐Gómez, D., & Blasco-Fontecilla, H. (2022) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/33884 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Youth science identity, science learning, and gaming experiences
Fraser, J., Shane‐Simpson, C., & Asbell‐Clarke, J. (2014) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.09.048 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Ault, M. M., Hare, J. C., Frey, B. B., Ellis, J. D., & Bulgren, J. A. (2015) · Journal of Research on Technology in Education · doi:10.1080/15391523.2015.967542 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Evans, M. A., Nino, M., Deater-Deckard, K. D., & Chang, M. (2015) · The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher · doi:10.1007/s40299-014-0225-y · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Self-citationBlumberg, F. C., Blades, M., & Oates, C. J. (2013) · Zeitschrift für Psychologie · doi:10.1027/2151-2604/a000133 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Understanding Children’s Choices and Cognition in Video Game Play
Hamlen, K. R. (2013) · Zeitschrift für Psychologie · doi:10.1027/2151-2604/a000136 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Ladeira, W. J., Santini, F. O., Sampaio, C. H., & Araújo, C. F. (2016) · Young Consumers Insight and Ideas for Responsible Marketers · doi:10.1108/yc-07-2015-00538 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Yu, Z., Yu, W. H., Fan, X., & Xiao, W. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0096865 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Technology Helps Students Transcend Part-Whole Concepts
Norton, A., Wilkins, J. L. M., Evans, M. A., Deater-Deckard, K. D., Balcı, O., & Chang, M. (2014) · Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School · doi:10.5951/mathteacmiddscho.19.6.0352 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citationAre Games a Viable Home Numeracy Practice?
Dubé, A. K., & Keenan, A. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-43974-7_10 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Playful learning in the twenty-first century: Motivational variables, interest assessment, and games
Yi, S. (2021) · SN Social Sciences · doi:10.1007/s43545-021-00164-z · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Evans, M. A., Pruett, J., Chang, M., & Zambrano, M. Á. N. (2014) · Journal of Educational Technology Systems · doi:10.2190/et.42.3.d · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Importance of Digital Games for Children and Young People
Blades, M., Blumberg, F. C., & Oates, C. J. (2013) · Zeitschrift für Psychologie · doi:10.1027/2151-2604/a000132 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Abraham, O., McCarthy, T. J., & Zaborek, J. (2023) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/51812 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Mustafee, N., Wienke, A., Smart, A., & Godsiff, P. (2015) · Winter Simulation Conference · doi:10.1109/wsc.2015.7408234 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Using Reason Racer to Support Argumentation in Middle School Science Instruction
Ault, M. M., Hare, J. C., Ellis, J. D., Bulgren, J. A., Kretschmer, I., & Frey, B. B. (2015) · Advances in early childhood and K-12 education · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-9616-7.ch018 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Save Our Sea: Game-Based Learning on Sea Environment Care
Khairuddin, M. H., Dahalan, N. M., Shukri, S. A. A. B., Noordin, M. R. M., & Shari, A. A. (2024) · Information Management and Business Review · doi:10.22610/imbr.v16i4(s)i.4289 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Lessons Learned Using Video Games in the Constructivist Undergraduate Engineering Classroom
Zambrano, M. Á. N., & Evans, M. A. (2013) · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationExploring travel behaviour using a gamified web-based application “Catch the Bus©”
DeCoito, I., & Briona, L. K. (2025) · Journal of Transport & Health · doi:10.1016/j.jth.2025.102004 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Using Reason Racer to Support Argumentation in Middle School Science Instruction
Ault, M. M., Hare, J. C., Ellis, J. D., Bulgren, J. A., Kretschmer, I., & Frey, B. B. (2016) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-9624-2.ch053
Using Reason Racer to Support Argumentation in Middle School Science Instruction
Ault, M. M., Hare, J. C., Ellis, J. D., Bulgren, J. A., Kretschmer, I., & Frey, B. B. (2016) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-1624-8.ch049
Siqueira, L. P. C., Ranalli, N. M. G., & Neto, S. G. D. B. (2021) · doi:10.29327/558730.1-14
BARBOSA, R. A. A., de SOUSA, J. R., PÍCOLO, D., & Camilo, F. C. S. M. (2024) · Unifunec Científica Multidisciplinar · doi:10.24980/ucm.v13i15.5998
Integration of Creative Technologies and AI Tools to Improve the Teaching of the History of Medicine
Santos, J. M., Silva, B., Almeida, F., & Martinez, J. (2025) · IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON) · doi:10.1109/educon62633.2025.11016493
- Authors
- Evans, M. A., Norton, A., Chang, M., Deater-Deckard, K., & Balci, O.
- Affiliations
- Virginia Tech (US)
- Florida International University (US)
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Venue
- Zeitschrift für Psychologie
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2013-01
- Volume
- 221
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 98-106
- ISSN
- 0044-3409 (ISSN-L)
- 2190-8370
- 2151-2604
- OpenAlex
- W2115859140
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 67
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 11.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Zeitschrift für Psychologie (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Games and Media
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- video games, youth, mathematics learning, student engagement, game-based learning, algebra readiness, junior high school students, game elements, mathematics achievement
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
