An investigation into the effect of educational games on financal literacy skills and the value of responsibility in 4th grade social studies course

This study aimed to investigate the effects of educational games on students' financial literacy skills, sense of responsibility, and the retention of learned knowledge. The study group consisted of 38 fourth-grade students enrolled in a primary school in the Patnos district of Ağrı province during the 2023–2024 academic year. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design within the framework of quantitative research methods, data were collected through the "Financial Literacy Scale for Children" developed by Yılmaz et al. (2022) and the "Responsibility Value Assessment Scale" developed by Özdemir (2021). The data were analyzed using computer-based statistical software. The findings indicated a statistically significant improvement in both financial literacy and responsibility levels among students in the experimental group exposed to educational games, whereas no significant change was observed in the control group taught through traditional methods. Moreover, the positive impact of the educational game approach on financial literacy and responsibility was found to be sustained over time, suggesting a lasting effect. In light of these results, it is recommended that active learning strategies such as educational games be more extensively integrated into primary school social studies curricula and adapted for use at various educational levels.