The impact of Quizizz-based gamified learning on EFL learners’ vocabulary acquisition
Keywords:
Quizizz, EFL, Vocabulary, Gamification, Self-Determination TheoryAbstract
This quasi-experimental study investigates the effectiveness of Quizizz-based gamified learning on vocabulary acquisition among 9th-grade EFL students. Using a pre-test/post-test control group design with 86 participants, the study compared an experimental group using Quizizz with a control group using traditional methods over eight weeks. Results indicate that the experimental group achieved statistically significant higher vocabulary gains. Perception data, analyzed through Self-Determination Theory, revealed high levels of student autonomy, competence, and relatedness, suggesting that gamification enhances intrinsic motivation. The findings imply that educators should integrate interactive digital platforms to foster engaging and effective vocabulary instruction in secondary classrooms. Further research is recommended to explore long-term retention and the scalability of gamified approaches in diverse educational contexts.
References
Arttırmak, O. D., KB, Ö., & Samet, B. A. L. (2018). Using Quizizz. com to enhance pre-intermediate students’ vocabulary knowledge. International Journal of Language Academy, 6(3), 295-303. https://www.academia.edu/download/61256786/1219821756_20_Samet_BAL20191118-128750-y631af.pdf
Bahameish, M., Khowaja, K., Abdelaal, Y., & Al-Thani, D. (2026). Pathways to learning: exploring the impact of augmented reality on vocabulary development in children with autism spectrum disorder. Interactive Learning Environments, 34(1), 4-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2025.2485407
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage.
Dayag, J. D. (2025). Fostering vocabulary enhancement through Quizizz: A perspective on digital gamification. Journal of English and Applied Linguistics, 4(1), 3. https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/jeal/vol4/iss1/3/
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The what and why of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Efendi, M., Sujarwati, I., & Harahap, A. (2025). The Effectiveness of Quizizz Application in Enhancing Students' Vocabulary Mastery based on Their Learning Styles. JEELS (Journal of English Education and Linguistics Studies), 12(1), 277-299. https://doi.org/10.30762/jeels.v12i1.4919
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American journal of theoretical and applied statistics, 5(1), 1-4.
Ghafar, Z. N. (2023). The Teacher-centered and the student-centered: a comparison of two approaches. International Journal of Arts and Humanities, 1(1), 18-23.
Hussain, M. N. M., Anuar, N. N. A. N., Jalil, N. A., Majid, N. A. A., & Mohamad, M. (2023). Utilising Quizizz in vocabulary learning: A literature review. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 12(1), 1149-1160. https://www.academia.edu/download/100357147/Utilising_Quizizz_in_Vocabulary_Learning_A_Literature_Review.pdf
Lasry, N., Charles, E., & Whittaker, C. (2014). When teacher-centered instructors are assigned to student-centered classrooms. Physical Review Special Topics-Physics Education Research, 10(1), 010116. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.10.010116
Mascolo, M. F. (2009). Beyond student-centered and teacher-centered pedagogy: Teaching and learning as guided participation. Pedagogy and the human sciences, 1(1), 3-27. https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/phs/vol1/iss1/6/
Metsala, J. L. (2026). The Effects of Integrated ELA–Science Versus Storybook Instruction on Early Elementary Students’ Vocabulary Learning. Reading Psychology, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2026.2630774
Nasir, S. H., Susanto, A. K., Helvira, V., & Khartha, A. (2025). Gamified vocabulary learning through Quizizz: An experimental study on EFL students’ lexical development in Indonesia. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 13(2), 7002-7012. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v13i2.8119
Pesántez-Sigüenza, A. C., & Naranjo-Andrade, S. S. (2023). Effects of using quizizz and wordwall to acquire vocabulary as a foreign language in second-grade students. Revista Metropolitana de Ciencias Aplicadas, 6(Suplemento 1), 187-197. https://remca.umet.edu.ec/index.php/REMCA/article/view/546
Putra, R. W. P. (2023). Improving students’ vocabulary through paper-mode quizizz: A classroom action research in Indonesian EFL setting. English Learning Innovation (englie), 4(1), 22-31. https://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/englie/article/view/24832
Raihana, A., & Salmiah, M. (2026). The Implementation of a Multisensory Approach on Overcoming Vocabulary Learning Difficulties Among Dyslexic Junior High School Students. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 14(1), 605-615. http://ejournal.iainpalopo.ac.id/index.php/ideas/article/view/9904
Rizkiawati, H., Santosa, M. H., & Indrayani, L. (2024). A Systematic Literature Review the Use of Quizizz on EFL Students’ Vocabulary Mastery: A Shift from Pandemic to Post-Pandemic. Journal of Educational Study, 4(2), 23-31. http://jurnal.stkipahsingaraja.ac.id/index.php/joes/article/view/949
Schuh, K. L. (2004). Learner-centered principles in teacher-centered practices?. Teaching and Teacher education, 20(8), 833-846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2004.09.008
Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for generalized causal inference. Houghton Mifflin.
Xodabande, I., & Thompson, P. (2026). Using Lexilize digital flashcards to enhance academic vocabulary learning among Iranian EFL university students. The JALT CALL Journal, 22, 102665-102665. https://doi.org/10.29140/jaltcall.2026.102665