The Role of Digital Games in Children’s Life: Development and Validation of a Likert-Type Scale for Gifted Students

Abstract

This study aims to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to assess gifted students’ attitudes toward digital games. The research is based on the assumption that digital games are not merely a source of entertainment but also possess significant potential for enhancing learning, creativity, social interaction, and emotional development. The study was conducted using a descriptive and methodological approach with a group of gifted students enrolled in Science and Art Centers in Turkey. The scale development process included an extensive literature review, expert evaluations, pilot implementation, and analyses of validity and reliability. The findings revealed that the scale consists of four main dimensions: game usage habits, perceptions of learning and creativity, social and emotional effects, and the use of games in educational contexts. Results indicated that gifted students generally hold positive attitudes toward digital games. The participants perceived games as tools that support learning processes, enhance creativity, and strengthen social interaction. The developed scale is proposed as a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the role of digital games in the cognitive and emotional development of gifted students. This study provides both theoretical and practical contributions to the fields of game-based learning and gifted education.