Modeling the Predictors of Perceived Usability of InteRaid: A Structural Equation Approach to Student Satisfaction

Abstract

Mathematics is an essential subject as it develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but many junior high school students have difficulty with the abstract concepts of mathematics, especially integer operations. Thus, this research investigates the diverse factors influencing how student users of InteRaid: The Battle of Numbers perceive their experience within the game, as determined by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). A quantitative descriptive-evaluative research design was utilized and involved 150 junior high school participants who participated through a stratified random sample and were assessed using validated instruments. In addition to using validated instruments to collect data on usability (i.e., assessing knowledge and perception and attitude and satisfaction measured through playability, narrative, enjoyment and creativity, audio-visual properties of aesthetics, personal gratification, social connection, and visual aesthetics), researchers assessed descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) using Jamovi software as well as utilizing SEM to assess model performance and determine predictive power. Researchers determined that participants found the game to be usable and provided satisfaction for every aspect evaluated. SEM results indicated that satisfaction could be predicted by combining knowledge, perception, and attitude, with knowledge being the strongest predictor. The structural model has demonstrated to have both acceptable model fit and predictive power. The study concludes that enhancing the usability features in interactive math games can lead to a large increase in both student satisfaction and their level of engagement while learning integer operations.