View in EDS

Impact of Traditional Games on Critical and Creative Thinking in Primary School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed-Methods Study

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Impact of Traditional Games on Critical and Creative Thinking in Primary School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed-Methods Study
Language: English
Authors: Suna Utar Özkan (ORCID 0000-0002-3246-039X), Sevilay Sahin (ORCID 0000-0002-7140-821X), Zarife Pancar (ORCID 0000-0002-1659-2157)
Source: International Online Journal of Primary Education. 2025 14(4):239-261.
Availability: International Online Journal of Primary Education. e-mail: editor.online.iojpe@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.iojpe.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Descriptors: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Elementary School Students, Elementary School Teachers, Game Based Learning, Folk Culture, Grade 4, Program Effectiveness, Culturally Relevant Education, Thinking Skills
ISSN: 1300-915X
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.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494437
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1494437
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1494437
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Impact of Traditional Games on Critical and Creative Thinking in Primary School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed-Methods Study
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Suna+Utar+Özkan%22">Suna Utar Özkan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3246-039X">0000-0002-3246-039X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sevilay+Sahin%22">Sevilay Sahin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7140-821X">0000-0002-7140-821X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zarife+Pancar%22">Zarife Pancar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1659-2157">0000-0002-1659-2157</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Online+Journal+of+Primary+Education%22"><i>International Online Journal of Primary Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 14(4):239-261.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: International Online Journal of Primary Education. e-mail: editor.online.iojpe@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.iojpe.org/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 23
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Creative+Thinking%22">Creative Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Critical+Thinking%22">Critical Thinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Teachers%22">Elementary School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Game+Based+Learning%22">Game Based Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Folk+Culture%22">Folk Culture</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Culturally+Relevant+Education%22">Culturally Relevant Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thinking+Skills%22">Thinking Skills</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1300-915X
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: 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.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1494437
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1494437
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 239
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Creative Thinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Critical Thinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Game Based Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Folk Culture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 4
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Culturally Relevant Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thinking Skills
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Impact of Traditional Games on Critical and Creative Thinking in Primary School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Mixed-Methods Study
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Suna Utar Özkan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sevilay Sahin
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zarife Pancar
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1300-915X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 14
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Online Journal of Primary Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1