The Relationship of the Preferred Types of Digital Games and Executive Functions in 6-7-Year-Old Children

<p>This study aimed to examine the relationship of the types of digital games preferred by preschoolers and their executive functions. For a more detailed study we created a classification of the games in question based on the content analysis of the participants&rsquo; intervie...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: V.A. Plotnikova, D.A. Bukhalenkova, E.A. Chichinina
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education 2023-11-01
Series:Психологическая наука и образование
Online Access:https://psyjournals.ru/en/journals/pse/archive/2023_n4/Plotnikova_et_al
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Summary:<p>This study aimed to examine the relationship of the types of digital games preferred by preschoolers and their executive functions. For a more detailed study we created a classification of the games in question based on the content analysis of the participants&rsquo; interview, game mechanism, and the required cognitive functions. 6 types of digital games were developed: quick reaction games, logic games, educational games, strategic games, drawing games, and simulators. The overall sample comprised 335 children (48.6% girls) aged 6&ndash;7 (M=74.6 months, SD=6.06 months). The study included assessment of the executive functions and an interview about digital games. We used the NEPSY-II subtests to measure the examinees&rsquo; executive functions level: visual and verbal working memory, and inhibition. We also used &ldquo;The Dimensional Change Card Sort&rdquo; to assess cognitive flexibility. Data analysis revealed that quick reaction games were the most popular at this age. The next favourite were logic games, strategic games, and simulators&rsquo;. The study demonstrated quick reaction game players&rsquo; visual working memory was better developed than in the non-players. Logic game players processed information at a higher speed than the non-players. Simulation game players obtained higher score in cognitive inhibition, than the children who didn&rsquo;t like this type of games.</p>
ISSN:1814-2052
2311-7273