Contributions of digital games to cognitive development in preschool education

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of digital games on the cognitive development of preschool children. The research, which was designed in the quantitative paradigm, was conducted in a quasi-experimental model with a pre-test post-test control group. The research, which was conducted on a total of 40 preschool students, was carried out in the preschool level of Şehit Ömer Sönmez Primary School in the centre of Elazığ province in the 2023-2024 academic year. After obtaining the necessary permissions, one of the two class sections in this school was randomly assigned as the experimental group (20 students) and one as the control group (20 students). The data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the 60-72 Month Cognitive Development Observation Form of the Ministry of National Education. Before the experimental process, which lasted for a total of six weeks, both groups were matched according to various criteria. In the experimental process that started after this, the lessons were carried out with digital game support in the experimental group and with the current instruction in the control group. The data obtained with the data collection tools applied to both groups before and after the experimental process were analysed with descriptive statistical techniques. The conclusions reached based on the findings obtained from the analyses are as follows: No significant difference was found between the post-test mean scores of the experimental group and control group students. A significant difference was calculated between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental group students. Similarly, a significant difference was calculated between the pre-test and post-test scores of the control group students. Accordingly, it is concluded that, as the current education is effective on the cognitive development of preschool children, digital games contribute positively to the cognitive development of preschool children, slightly more than the current education.