Graduate Student Research Symposium 2026

Computer programming is a valued skill and way of thinking that is difficult to learn because of its rigid logic, syntactical complexity, attention to detail, and multiple levels of abstraction. This project introduces a turn-based multiplayer game intervention for post-secondary students designed to foster learners’ self-efficacy in programming. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, the game integrates scaffolded leveling, peer observation, and competitive dynamics to teach fundamental coding concepts (e.g., conditionals, loops) within a social, low-stakes environment. To evaluate the effectiveness of the game-based intervention, this study will utilize a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. Pre- and post-surveys will assess the impact of the intervention on learners’ level of self-efficacy, while follow-up interviews will explore how game features relate to participants’ sources of self-efficacy. By combining both quantitative and qualitative data, this study aims to draw insights into how learners develop their self-efficacy beliefs through the game-based intervention.