Date of Award
12-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Institute on Family and Community Life
Committee Chair/Advisor
Mark Small
Committee Member
Bonnie Holaday
Committee Member
Susan Limber
Committee Member
Natallia Sianko
Abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of Yozgoo's web-based gamified educational intervention in enhancing elementary school students’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to bullying prevention in Albania. Utilizing a true experimental pre-test and post-test control group design, the study involved 120 students (ages 10-12) equally divided by gender and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 60) or a control group (n = 60). The experimental group participated in Yozgoo gameplay sessions over six to eight weeks, while the control group engaged in standard activities without exposure to the intervention.
Three validated measures were administered to assess outcomes: The Bullying Knowledge Questionnaire, the Bullying Attitudes Questionnaire, and the Dublin Anti-Bullying Self-Efficacy Scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including paired samples t-tests, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the experimental group’s bullying-related knowledge. In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes across these variables.
The findings suggest that Yozgoo is an effective gamified learning tool for improving students’ comprehension of bullying dynamics, reducing tolerance of bullying behaviors, and enhancing confidence in recognizing and responding to bullying. No significant gender-based differences were found, indicating the intervention’s equal applicability for both sexes. This study contributes to the growing body of research supporting gamified educational interventions. It underscores the potential of interactive digital tools to promote safe and supportive school environments through evidence-based bullying prevention strategies.
Keywords: bullying prevention, gamified learning, Yozgoo, elementary education, self-efficacy, attitudes, knowledge, Albania.
Recommended Citation
Rexhepaj, Sashen, "An Experimental Evaluation of a Gamified Learning Approach to Address Bullying Knowledge, Perceptions, and Self-Efficacy Among Elementary Students: Playing Yozgoo in Albania" (2025). All Dissertations. 4187.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4187
Author ORCID Identifier
C19155707
Comments
This dissertation examines a culturally responsive, game-based program (Yozgoo) that helps elementary students recognize, prevent, and report bullying while strengthening bystander action and self-efficacy. Using rigorous, school-friendly methods, it offers practical evidence that digital learning can build empathy and safer classroom behaviors. It is shared for teachers, families, and policymakers seeking engaging, data-grounded tools to foster inclusion and child well-being—so every child can learn in safety and respect.