Exploring the Acceptance and Impact of a Digital Escape Room Game for Environmental Education Using Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

This study explores the utilization of digital escape rooms for promoting environmental education. The goal is to investigate the effectiveness of this technology in enhancing users’ environmental knowledge and eco-friendly behaviors in their daily lives. For this purpose, a digital escape room was developed and used as a testbed for this research. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate its acceptance and impact on environmental education. As such, this study examines how the game’s perceived ease of use, enjoyment, and usefulness affect learning engagement, environmental knowledge, and, consequently, environmental behavior. A sample of university students was used to assess these relationships, and the results indicate that the digital escape room positively influences users’ environmental knowledge and encourages eco-friendly behaviors.