Enhancements in Cognitive Performance and Academic Achievement in Adolescents through the Hybridization of an Instructional Model with Gamification in Physical Education

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Review Report

The main aim of the study is to test a hybrid education model with gamification elements in the physical education class. First of all, it is worth emphasizing that the researchers have found a balanced set of interrelated psychological and social factors, which affect the regulation of student behaviour, i.e., giving autonomy to students in the education process promotes in the students the feeling of responsibility for the results, thus highlighting the importance of cooperation. Next in the course of the experiment we see how successful results of students form a positive emotional background and intrinsic satisfaction, which in turn increases motivation for self-directed learning.

Strengths of the study:

• The key terms are defined correctly. The designed theoretical and conceptual model is consistently applied and tested.
• The researchers have designed the experiment well – described the stages of the experiment in detail, selected tasks for students, a combination of pedagogical approaches and tools for the development of cognitive skills. The research methods and measurement of the parameters of selected variables in the learning process are appropriate for the achievement of the aim. The statistical processing methods of the data obtained are strictly defined.
• The approach employed by the authors demonstrates the benefits of combining education methods and tools, the possibility for the teacher to design their activity when choosing tools for the development of cognitive skills in students, as well as for increasing their motivation for learning. The authors have also noted the factors and approaches that do not affect cognitive and academic success of students in the intervention
• I believe that the reader will find an answer to the question: What practice launched the mechanism of cognitive performance development in students?
• Figures and tables are fitting – properly described and referred to in the text.
• The list of references contains 67 items. The proportion of sources published in 2015–2020 is approximately 50%.

Despite the clear essence of the experiment, the article has some weaknesses:

The language is understandable; however, there are some errors, e.g., missing words or incomplete sentences (line 46, 60), wrong article (40), wrong word – finding (44)? In some instances, the word order is more difficult to perceive or unnatural (13, 17-18, 56). ‘Fluency in animals’ sounds ambiguous (i.e., how fluent animals are) and better be paraphrased, hence it is better to rename the vegetables variable as well. The language of the text requires some corrections. Some examples are highlighted in the file attached.

To facilitate the perception of the text, I suggest clarifying the description from the beginning so that the reader understands that the participants of the experiment were performing the verbal fluency task described in Section 2.3.1 where they have to produce a set of words from the semantic category “animals” and “vegetables”. I personally did not understand in what sense the word “average” is used. I believe the term “average” here does not reflect the true sense referring to verbal fluency test results. Perhaps “the mean of both variables” would be more appropriate?

Line 109: The reference to figure 1 looks like (Figure 1), but in Line 159 the reference to figure 2 looks like (Fig 2) – the form needs to be the same.

Conclusion: The language of the article needs to be revised and corrected. The article deserves to be published after revision and correction of language.

It is also worth noting that the educational model proposed in the study corresponds to the principles of sustainability.

The strategy of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for sustainable development declares the necessity to move from simple passing of knowledge and skills required for life in modern society to the readiness to take action and live in rapidly changing conditions, participate in the planning of social development, learn to foresee the consequences of the actions taken, including any possible consequences for the sustainability of natural ecosystems and social structures.

Whereas the Bonn Declaration in the section “Education for sustainable development in the 21st century” (paragraph 6) states the following:

“Education for sustainable development is setting a new direction for education and learning for all. It promotes quality education, and is inclusive of all people. It is based on values, principles and practices necessary to respond effectively to current and future challenges.”

I believe the hybrid education model explored in the article is currently important because it proposes one of the solutions to the challenges that exist in the world today. Thus, it does not only serve as an example of a response to current events, but also forms knowledge and abilities required for live in a rapidly changing world, which facilitates the achievement of sustainability.

As an educational psychologist who has worked with cognitively passive children, I believe that the presented hybrid education model has demonstrated its viability. Improved cognitive performance of the students proves the success of this experiment, and the size of the research sample is of secondary importance here.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In my opinion, the article is very well prepared.

Due to the lower status of the PE, which is observed in many countries, compared to other academic subjects, it is necessary to restore the status of the PE, and I consider it justified to look for models favoring this. The search for innovative education programs, including the introduction of hybridization among adolescents, in the era of rapid technology development and pandemic, is an important aspect of society's development. It is mainly about motivating and engaging to take action as well as seeking the improvement of cognitive performance, which was presented for the first time in this paper.

The article is very well prepared in terms of content and methodology. The cited scientific sources are up-to-date and related to the presented area of ​​research. The authors are aware of the limitations of this work, treating the presented material as a pilot study, which should be extended to the next stages of research, taking into account a larger number of respondents. I suggest adding to the  “Materials” in article the region in which the research was carried out. Where do the surveyed teenagers come from?

Congratulations to the authors of the article.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

A file with the necessary indications is attached.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf