Let Us Save Lives Using Games! A Study of the Effect of Digital Games for Traffic Education

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to examine the effect of game-based learning on knowledge acquisition and retention of road rules. A secondary purpose of this study is to investigate possible gender differences related to such an approach. The third purpose is to explore the relationship between beliefs and knowledge acquisition. This quasi-experimental study employed pretest–posttests design involving 42 participants, randomly selected from people in Alberta, Canada. The participants took a pretest, played a game specifically designed to help players learn road rules, and then two posttests. The results show that gaming not only can improve players’ knowledge of road rules and road safety but also can help players retain such knowledge. However, no gender difference was identified in knowledge gain after the gaming intervention.