Exploring the Influence of Digital Games on Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours Based on the New Ecological Paradigm Scale: A Mixed-Methods Study in India

Shamila Janakiraman, Sunnie Lee Watson, William R. Watson and Daniel P. Shepardson
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Shamila Janakiraman: Shamila Janakiraman is Visiting Faculty in the Learning Design and Technology Programme, Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Sunnie Lee Watson: Sunnie Lee Watson is Associate Professor in Learning Design and Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. E-mail: sunnieleewatson@purdue.edu
William R. Watson: William R. Watson is Associate Professor in Learning Design and Technology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. E-mail: brwatson@purdue.edu
Daniel P. Shepardson: Daniel P. Shepardson is Professor of Geo-environmental and Science Education, Departments of Learning Design and Technology, and Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, IN, USA. E-mail: dshep@purdue.edu

Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 2021, vol. 15, issue 1, 72-99

Abstract: Anthropogenic activities cause environmental degradation-related problems. However, people fail to perform pro-environmental behaviours because they believe that they cannot make a difference or they focus on short-term benefits. Interventions that address specific target groups aimed at breaking barriers and changing behaviours are required. To teach young learners, environmental education using digital games can be a more effective instructional method. This mixed-methods study, conducted among high school students in India, examined differences in pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours between students who played a game called EnerCities and those students who did not play that game. Significant differences existed between the two groups considering the unidimensional and multi-dimensional properties of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. Thematic analysis with an inductive approach identified from the interview data: How EnerCities changed participants’ environmental attitudes? This study finds implications for implementing games and using the NEP to examine environmental attitudes of high school students in India.

Keywords: Digital games; environmental sustainability education; pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours; New Ecological Paradigm scale; mixed-methods study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jousus:v:15:y:2021:i:1:p:72-99

DOI: 10.1177/0973408221997844

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