A comparative analysis of Sports Sciences Faculty students' motivation towards digital sportsgames and their attitudes towards artificial intelligence technologies

This study aims to examine students' motivation levels in the Faculty of Sport Sciences towards digital sports games and their attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, as well as to evaluate the relationship between these two variables in the context of demographic characteristics. The research was conducted within the framework of a descriptive correlational survey model, and the study group consisted of 455 students enrolled in the Faculty of Sport Sciences during the 2024–2025 academic year. Of the participants, 238 were male (52.3%) and 217 were female (47.7%). Data were collected through a personal information form, the Digital Sports Games Motivation Scale, and the Attitude Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale, and analysed using SPSS 27.0 with normality tests, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, post-hoc tests, and correlation analyses. The findings revealed that students' motivation for digital sports games and their attitudes toward AI differed significantly across gender, type of sport, class level, academic department, income status, gaming habits, and prior AI experience. Male students reported higher levels of motivation and attitudes toward AI than female students. Similarly, students engaged in team sports and those with prior AI experience scored higher than those involved in individual sports or lacking such experience. Furthermore, first-year students demonstrated significantly higher motivation levels and attitudes than upper-year students. Correlation analyses indicated a low yet significant relationship between digital sports game motivation and AI attitudes. While the dimensions of enjoyment and socialisation supported more positive attitudes, the dimensions of competition and fantasy were associated with heightened anxiety and negative perceptions. In conclusion, students' motivation for digital games and their attitudes toward AI exhibit a multidimensional and interactive structure, with their perceptions of technology shaped by both positive and negative aspects.world.