Structural Equation Model of Perceived Communication Skills and Educational Performance in Online Environments: The Role of Virtual Education and Computer Games

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Educational Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between perceived communication skills and educational performance with the mediating role of virtual education and computer games in second-year high school students of Kerman City, Iran.
Methods: The research method used descriptive correlation, and the statistical population of the research was all students in the second year of high school in Kerman City, which was carried out between September 2021 and June 2022. Based on Morgan's sampling table, 291 people were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling, and they answered the questionnaires assessing the communication skills developed by Jerabek (2004), the educational performance test of Pham and Taylor (1999), the technology acceptance model (1986), and a researcher-made questionnaire on the computer games. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, with a statistical significance level set at 5%.
Results: The results revealed a significant correlation between communication skills and educational performance and virtual education, particularly highlighting the importance of understanding verbal and nonverbal messages. Understanding of verbal and nonverbal messages positively influenced educational performance (γ=0.141, p=0.025) and virtual education (γ=0.208, p=0.001), while assertiveness showed a strong positive correlation with both educational performance (γ=0.197, p=0.002) and virtual education (γ=0.233, p=0.001). However, insights into the communication process did not demonstrate a significant correlation in these areas. In contrast, the analysis of computer games revealed a negative correlation with determined communication (γ=-0.354, p=0.001) and no significant correlation between other components on educational performance (β=-0.098, p=0.078). Additionally, virtual education had a positive and significant direct correlation with educational performance (β=0.276, p=0.001).
Conclusion: Virtual education enables students to study independently while facilitating peer interaction. Additionally, computer games have been shown to enhance concentration and attention, strengthen mathematical skills, and improve logical reasoning, ultimately leading to improved educational performance.

Highlights

Akbar Jadidi Mohammadabadi (Google Scholar)

Keywords


1 Qazdar A, Hasidi O, Qassimi S, Abdelwahed EH. Newly proposed student Performance Indicators based on learning Analytics for continuous monitoring in learning management systems. International. IJOE. 2023;16(19):11. doi: 10.3991/ijoe.v19i11.39471.
2 Khalife J, Zarifsanaiey N, Bazrafkan L, Keshavarzi F. The relationship between learning styles, locus of control, and academic achievement among virtual learners at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Interdiscip J Virtual Learn Med Sci. 2018;9(4):1-7. doi: 10.5812/ijvlms.87178.
3 Chen D, Wawrzynski P. Lv Z. Cyber Security in Smart Cities: A review of Deep Learning-based Applications and Case Studies. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2021;66,102655. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102655.
4 Ogunyemi KO, Olagbaju OO. Effects of assertive and aggressive communication styles on students’ Self-Esteem and achievement in English language. Cross-cultural Communication. 2020;26;16(1):96–101. doi:10.3968/11594.
5 Jadidi Mohammadabadi A, Sarmadi MR, Farajolahi M, Zare H. Identification and Evaluation of the Features of the Epistemology of the MOOC (Open and Online). Interdiscip J Virtual Learn Med Sci. 2019;10(1):66-77. doi: 10.5812/ijvlms.83757.
6 Timotheou S, Miliou O, Dimitriadis Y, Sobrino SV, Giannoutsou N, Cachia R, Monés AM, Ioannou A. Impacts of digital technologies on education and factors influencing schools' digital capacity and transformation: A literature review. Educ Inf Technol. 2023;28(6):6695-6726. doi: 10.1007/s10639-022-11431-8. PubMed PMID: 36465416; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9684747.
7 Kassaw C, Demareva V. Determinants of academic achievement among higher education student found in low resource setting, A systematic review. PLoS One. 2023;20;18(11):e0294585. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294585. PubMed PMID: 37983225; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10659171.
8 Sreedharan J, Subbarayalu AV, Kamalasanan A, Albalawi I, Krishna GG, Alahmari AD, Alsalamah JA, Alkhathami MG, Alenezi M, Alqahtani AS, Alahmari M, Phillips MR, MacDonald J. Key Performance Indicators: A Framework for Allied Healthcare Educational Institutions. Clinicoecon Outcomes Res. 2024;16:173-85. doi: 10.2147/CEOR.S446614. PubMed PMID: 38562567; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10982069.
9 Costa A, Moreira D, Casanova J, Azevedo Â, Gonçalves A, Oliveira Í, et al. Determinants of academic achievement from the middle to secondary school education: A systematic review. Social Psychology of Education. 2024;22. doi: 10.1007/s11218-024-09941-z.
10 School Evaluation Indicators: Effective Practice for Improvement and Learner Success. The Education Review Office; 2016. Available from: https://ero.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2021-04/School%20Evaluation%20Indicators%202016_0.pdf.
11 Ghorbani AT, Zarifsanaiey N, Negahban MB. Comparing the Impacts of E-learning and Conventional Education on Students’ Academic Motivation and Performance: A Descriptive Study. Interdiscip J Virtual Learn Med Sci. 2020;11(3):170-179. doi: 10.30476/ijvlms.2020.86756.1039.
12 Badamian H, Delavarpour M, Sotodeh Asl N. The role of family communication patterns in students’ academic engagement in online classes. JAYPS. 2023;4(9):43-51. doi:10.61838/kman.jayps.4.9.5.
13 Lent R, Ijeoma Ezeofor M. Ashley Morrison, Lee T. Penn, Glenn W. Ireland. Applying the social cognitive model of career self-management to career exploration and decision-making. J Vocat Behav. 2016; 93:47-57. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2015.12.007.
14 Green S, Baker B. Parents' emotion expression as a predictor of child's social competence: children with or without intellectual disability. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2011;55(3):324-38. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01363.x. PubMed PMID: 21241394; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4199636.
15 Yildiz E, Ohnmacht F. Educational success despite school? From cultural hegemony to a Post‐Inclusive school. Social Inclusion. 2022;10(2):313-23. doi: 10.17645/si.v10i2.5178.
16 Zhao L, Zhao W. Impacts of family environment on adolescents’ academic achievement: The role of peer interaction quality and educational expectation gap. Front. Psychol. 2022;13. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.911959.
17 Carrión-Martínez J.J, Luque-de la Rosa A, Fernández-Cerero J, Montenegro-Rueda M. Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in Education for Sustainable Development: A Bibliographic Review. Sustainability. 2020;12:3288. doi: 10.3390/su120832881.
18 Botero-Gómez V, Ruiz-Herrera LG, Valencia-Arias A, Romero Díaz A, Vives Garnique JC. Use of Virtual Tools in Teaching-Learning Processes: Advancements and Future Direction. Social Sciences. 2023;12(2):70. doi: 10.3390/socsci12020070.
19 Gao Y, Wong SL, Khambari MNM, Noordin Nb, Geng J. Sustaining E-Learning Studies in Higher Education: An Examination of Scientific Productions in Scopus between 2019 and 2021. Sustainability. 2022;14(21):14005. doi: 10.3390/su142114005.
20 Söderlund A, Blazeviciene A, Elvén M, Vaskelyte A, Strods R, Blese I, Paakkonen H, Fernandes A, Cardoso D, Kav S, Baskici C, Wiktsröm-Grotell C. Exploring the activities and outcomes of digital teaching and learning of practical skills in higher education for the social and health care professions: a scoping review. Discov Educ. 2023;2(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s44217-022-00022-x. PubMed PMID: 36619252; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9809526.
21 Liu JYW, Yin YH, Kor PPK, Cheung DSK, Zhao IY, Wang S, Su JJ, Christensen M, Tyrovolas S, Leung AYM. The Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality Applications on Enhancing the Learning Outcomes of Undergraduate Health Care Students: Systematic Review With Meta-synthesis. J Med Internet Res. 2023;6;25:e39989. doi: 10.2196/39989. PubMed PMID: 36877550; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10028520.
22 Sinclair PM, Kable A, Levett-Jones T, Booth D. The effectiveness of Internet-based e-learning on clinician behaviour and patient outcomes: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016;57:70-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.01.011. PubMed PMID: 27045566.
23 Caprara L, Caprara C. Effects of virtual learning environments: A Scoping Review of Literature. Educ Inf Technol. 2022;27(3):3683-3722. doi: 10.1007/s10639-021-10768-w. PubMed PMID: 34629934; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8492824.
24 Brindley J, Blaschke LM, Walti C. Creating Effective Collaborative Learning Groups in an Online Environment. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. 2009;10(3). doi: 10.19173/irrodl.v10i3.67525.
25 Shokouhi-Moqhaddam S, Khezri-Moghadam N, Javanmard Z, Sarmadi-Ansar H, Aminaee M, Shokouhi-Moqhaddam M, Zivari-Rahman M. A Study of the Correlation between Computer Games and Adolescent Behavioral Problems. Addict Health. 2013;5(1-2):43-50. PubMed PMID: 24494157; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3905568.
26 Hwang GJ, Sung HY, Hung CM, Huang I, Tsai CC. Development of a personalized educational computer game based on students’ learning styles. Educ Technol Res Dev. 2012;60(4):623-38. Available from: https://www.learntechlib.org/p/67714.
27 Deng L, Daverpanah N, Izadpanah S. The relationship of educational computer games on the academic resilience, academic self-regulation, and academic achievement of EFL students. Front Psychol. 2023 Jan 23;13:947577. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.947577. PubMed PMID: 36755985; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9901295.
28 Sun H, Gao Y. Impact of an active educational video game on children's motivation, science knowledge, and physical activity. J Sport Health Sci. 2016 Jun;5(2):239-245. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2014.12.004. PubMed PMID: 30356479; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6188572.
29 Simões S, Oliveira T, Nunes C. Influence of computers in students' academic achievement. Heliyon. 2022 Feb 24;8(3):e09004. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09004. PubMed PMID: 35299603; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8920860.
30 Kanthan R, Senger JL. The impact of specially designed digital games-based learning in undergraduate pathology and medical education. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011 Jan;135(1):135-42. doi: 10.5858/2009-0698-OAR1.1. PubMed PMID: 21204720.
31 Alizadeh S, Sarmadi MR, Seif MH, Mazloumian S. Using the TPACK-G Model to Assess High School Teachers’ Acceptance of Digital Game-Based Learning in View of Perceived Usefulness and Digital Self-Efficacy. Interdiscip J Virtual Learn Med Sci. 2021;12(4):275-286. doi:10.30476/IJVLMS.2021.90781.1098.
32 Kök Eren H, Örsal Ö. Computer Game Addiction and Loneliness in Children. Iran J Public Health. 2018 Oct;47(10):1504-10. PubMed PMID: 30524980; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6277725.
33 Cerezo-Pizarro M, Revuelta-Domínguez FI, Guerra-Antequera J, Melo-Sánchez J. The Cultural Impact of Video Games: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Educ. Sci. 2023;13(11):1116. doi: 10.3390/educsci13111116.
34 Jerabek I. Communication Skills Inventory-revised. Body-Mind QueenDom. Available from: http://www.queendom.com/comunic. html.2004.
35 Hosseinechari M, Fadakare davarani MM. Studying the Impact of University on Communication Skills based on Comparison of Students. Journal of Daneshvar Behavior. 2005;12(15):21-32. [in Persian].
36 Pham LB, Taylor SE. From thought to Action: Effects of Process-versus Outcome-based Mental Simulations on Performance. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 1999;25: 250-60. doi: 10.1177/01461672990250020.
37 Dortaj F, Delavar A. The Relationship of Process and Product Mental Simulation on Academic Achievement of College Students. Journal of New thoughts on Education. 2005;1(3). Available from: https://ensani.ir/file/download/article/20100915195239-20.pdf. [In Persian].
38 Noor Mohammadian, M. Investigating the relationship between educational performance and mental health of high school students in Kerman. Master Thesis, unpublished, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Department of Educational Sciences; 2006 [n Persian].
39 Qoltash, A.; Oji Nejad, A and Barzegar, M. The relationship of teaching metacognitive leaders on educational performance and creativity of fifth-grade elementary school boys, Quarterly Journal of Educational Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, First Year, 2010. 4: 119-13 [In Persian].
40 Liu C-H, Huang Y-M. An empirical investigation of computer simulation technology acceptance to explore the factors that affect user intention. Univers Access Inf Soc. 2015;14(3):449–57. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10209-015-0402-7.
41 Robson K, Plangger K, Kietzmann JH, McCarthy I, Pitt L. Game on: Engaging customers and employees through gamification. Bus Horiz. 2016;59(1):29–36. doi: 10.1016/j.bushor.2015.08.002.
42 Koufaris M. Applying the Technology Acceptance Model and Flow Theory to Online Consumer Behavior. Inf Syst Res. 2002;13(2):205–23. doi: 10.1287/isre.13.2.205.83.
43 Mosalanejad L, Dastpak, M, Karimian, Z. Acceptance of Gamified Web-Based Education in Mental Illness Courses: A Survey of Medical Students’ Perceptions Over 5 Years. Interdiscip J Virtual Learn Med Sci, 2023;14(3): 225-237. doi: 10.30476/ijvlms.2023.99871.1253.
44 Mueller, R.O. Basic principles of structural equation modeling: An introduction to LISREL and EQS. New York: Springer; 1996. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4612-3974-1.
45 Weston R, Gore P. (2006). A Brief Guide to Structural Equation Modeling. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 719-751. doi: 10.1177/0011000006286345.
46 Harrison D.A, Klein K.J. What’s the Differences? Diversity Constructs as Separation, Variety, or Disparity in Organizations. Academy of Management Review. 2007;32:1199-1228. doi: 10.5465/AMR.2007.26586096.
47 Petrovici A, Dobresc T, The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Building Interpersonal Communication Skills, Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2014;116:1405-10. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.406.
48 Dehestani N, Whittle S, Vijayakumar N, Silk T.J . Developmental brain changes during puberty and associations with mental health problem. Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2023;60:101227. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101227.
49 Brinia V, Selimi P, Dimos A, Kondea A. The Impact of Communication on the Effectiveness of Educational Organizations. Education Sciences. 2022;12(3):170. doi: 10.3390/educsci12030170.
50 Sitota G, Assertiveness and Academic Achievement Motivation of Adolescent Students in Selected Secondary Schools of Harari Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies 6(4):40. doi: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.6n.4p.40.
51 Ghodrati F, Tavakoli P, Heydari N, Akbarzadeh M. Investigating the Relationship between Self-Esteem, Assertiveness and Academic Achievement in Female High School Students. International Journal of current Medical and Applied sciences. 2016, 11(1),51-56. Available from: https://www.ijcmaas.com/images/archieve/IJCMAAS_JUNE_2016_VOL11_ISS1_14.pdf
52 Adelakun A, Miller CL, Peterson H, Manderfeld M.  Fostering assertiveness through role-play gaming case study. Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds. 2024;16(1):89–106. doi: 10.1386/jgvw_00093_1.
53 Lepe-Salazar F, Mejía-Romero F, Benicio-Rodríguez D, Hernández-Reyes A, Nakajima T, Salgado-Torres S. Game-Based Promotion of Assertiveness to Mitigate the Effects of Bullying in High School Students: Development and Evaluation Study. JMIR Serious Games. 2024;12:e58452. doi: 10.2196/58452. PubMed PMID: 39718822; PubMed Central PMCID: 11707447.
54 Laurence, Hermawan A, Bernarto I, Antonio F. Video Game Engagement: A Passkey to the Intentions of ContinuePlaying, Purchasing Virtual Items, and Player Recruitment (3PsInternational Journal of Computer Games Technology. 2023;2648097. doi: 10.1155/2023/2648097.
55 LT Khansari. Presenting a structural model of analyzing the relationship between family communication patterns and achievement motivation with emphasis on the mediating role of students' academic adjustment. Management and Educational Perspective. 2021;3(2):151-73. doi: 10.22034/jmep.2021.302567.1065. [In Persian]
56 Demirdag S. The mediating role of communication skills in the relationship between leadership style and 21st-century skills. South African Journal of Education. 2022;42(2):1-11. doi: 10.15700/saje.v42n2a2053.
57 Tekel E, Erus SM. Mediating Role of Teachers’ Effective Communication Skills in the Relationship between Interpersonal Mindfulness and Subjective Well-Being. JL4D. 2023;10(3):452-63.
58 Golshahi S, Kheiri S, Rabiei M, Enjezab B. A study on the effect of virtual communication skills education with a cognitive-behavioral approach on communication skills of midwifery personnel in healthcare centers. Journal of Multidisciplinary Care (JMDC). 2022;11(4):157-63. doi: 10.34172/jmdc.2022.109.
59 James R. Online discourse in a primary school setting [MA thesis]. England: University of York; 2010. Available from: https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/960.
60 Na Li. How Technology Promotes Educational Change: Studies of Virtual Learning Environment in Higher Education [Dissertation]. Xi’an: Jiaotong-Liverpool University; 2022. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.20426.24006.
61 Berry M. An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Virtual Learning Environment Implementation in Primary Education [Dissertation]. UK: University of Leicester; 2006. Available from: https://milesberry.net/docs/MBA.pdf.
62 Garrison DR, Anderson T, Archer W. Critical Inquiry in a Text-Based Environment: Computer Conferencing in Higher Education. The Internet and Higher Education. 1999;2(2-3):87-105. doi.org/10.1016/S1096-7516(00)00016-6.
63 Festl R, Scharkow M, Quandt T. Problematic computer game use among adolescents, younger and older adults. Addiction. 2013;108(3):592-9. doi: 10.1111/add.12016. Erratum in: Addiction. 2013 Mar;108(3):656. PubMed PMID: 23078146.
64 Mao W, Cui Y, Chiu MM, Lei H. Effects of Game-Based Learning on Students’ Critical Thinking: A Meta-Analysis. 2021;59(8). doi: 10.1177/07356331211007098.
65 Pacheco-Velazquez E, Rodés V, Salinas-Navarro D. Developing learning skills through game-based learning in complex scenarios: A case in undergraduate logistics education. Journal of Technology and Science Education, 2024;14(1):169-83. doi: 10.3926/jotse.2219.
66 Vlachopoulos D, Makri A. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. 2017;14:22.
doi: 10.1186/s41239-017-0062-1.
67 Klimova B, Kacet J. Efficacy of Computer Games on Language Learning. TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology. 2017;16 (4):19-26. Available from: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1160637.pdf.
68 Sapienza A, Zeng Y, Bessi A, Lerman K, Ferrara E. Individual performance in team-based online games. R Soc Open Sci. 2018;5(6):180329. doi: 10.1098/rsos.180329. PubMed PMID: 30110428; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6030337.
69 Ivgin AB. Akcay H. The impact of using educational and digital games on middle school students science achievement. International Journal of Technology in Education (IJTE). 2024;7(3),386-416. doi: 10.46328/ijte.781.
70 Deng L, Daverpanah N, Izadpanah S. The effect of educational computer games on the academic resilience, academic self-regulation, and academic achievement of EFL students. Front. Psychol. 2023;13:947577. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.947577.
71 Paleczna M. Computer games as a subject of psychological research – negative and positive aspects of gaming. Replay. 2022;1(9):11-38. doi: 10.18778/2391-8551.09.02.
72 Shliakhovchuk E. Video Games as Awareness Raisers, Attitude Changers, and Agents of Social Change. International Journal of Computer Games Technology. 2024;3274715. doi: 10.1155/2024/3274715.
73 Lepe-Salazar F, Mejía-Romero F, Benicio-Rodríguez D, Hernández-Reyes A, Nakajima T, Salgado-Torres S. Game-Based Promotion of Assertiveness to Mitigate the Effects of Bullying in High School Students: Development and Evaluation Study. JMIR Serious Games. 2024;12:e58452. doi: 10.2196/58452. PubMed PMID: 39718822; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11707447.
74 Bokhari NM, Zafar M. Learning styles and approaches among medical education participants. J Educ Health Promot. 2019;8:181. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_95_19. PubMed PMID: 31867366; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6796290.
75 Kharb P, Samanta PP, Jindal M, Singh V. The learning styles and the preferred teaching-learning strategies of first year medical students. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013;7(6):1089-92. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2013/5809.3090. PubMed PMID: 23905110; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3708205.
76 Vizeshfar F, Torabizadeh C. The effect of teaching based on dominant learning style on nursing students' academic achievement. Nurse Educ Pract. 2018;28:103-108. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2017.10.013. PubMed PMID: 29065318.
77 Karimian Z, Zolfaghari Z. Learning styles vs. virtual education preferences: a cross-sectional study on medical sciences e-students. Front. Educ. 2024;9:1499501. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1499501.
78 Nakunsong T. Evolving K-12 Digital Education: Enhancing Flexibility and Access through Online Learning and Virtual Programs. Journal of Education and Learning Reviews. 2024;1(5):1-12. doi: 10.60027/jelr.2024.791.