Learning a Sport through Video Gaming: A Mixed-Methods Experimental Study

Abstract

This study examined the impact of playing a sport video game on learning the sport as well as how the game may influence future intentions of watching or playing the sport. Utilizing American university students with little prior knowledge of cricket, this study employed a mixed-methods pre/post intervention design with randomized experimental (EG; n = 43) and control (CG; n = 46) groups. Results indicated that cricket knowledge significantly increased for the EG pre-test to post-test (p < .05, n^2 = 0.19; particularly regarding cricket rules, terminology, player positions, and field layout), while the CG did not significantly differ. A significant difference was also found between the EG and CG for interest in playing cricket (p < .05, n^2 = 0.9). Qualitative findings supported that video gaming motivated intentions to watch and play cricket. Sport video games can facilitate increased sport knowledge, sport appreciation, and intentions for future physical activity.