Playful Minds against Misinformation: Investigating the Effects of Playful Learning on Persuasion, Motivation, and Critical Thinking

Abstract

The growing prevalence of health-related misinformation presents a critical challenge for individuals navigating digital environments. This study investigated whether a playful learning approach enhances adults’ ability to recognize persuasive techniques embedded in health misinformation. It also examined the mediating role of critical thinking and explored whether the playful learning approach fosters motivation to engage in similar educational environments. A between-subjects experimental design was employed with 152 university students randomly assigned to either a playful or non-playful learning condition. Participants completed a persuasion recognition test based on Cialdini’s seven persuasive techniques, a critical thinking questionnaire, and a learning approach motivation scale. Results indicated that participants exposed to the playful learning approach demonstrated significantly higher persuasion recognition and motivation than those in the non-playful condition. Although playful learning enhanced critical thinking, a mediation analysis revealed that critical thinking did not significantly explain the link between learning condition and persuasion recognition. Exploratory analysis showed that motivation partially mediated this relationship. These findings highlight the potential of playful learning to enhance persuasion recognition through multiple psychological pathways, particularly motivation. The study contributes to the adult education literature by positioning playfulness not merely as a personality trait but as a broader driver of learning. Even in online learning environments, it functions as a tool that fosters critical thinking and motivation, similar to its established role in child populations. The practical implications are that playful learning designs can serve as effective interventions to enhance resilience to misinformation and promote the development of informed, media-literate adults within society.