The Effect of Musical Dramatic Games on Verbal Skills, Oracy, Vocabulary, and Self-Confidence among Shy Fourth-Grade Elementary School Students

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of musical dramatic games in improving verbal skills, oracy, vocabulary, and self-confidence among shy fourth-grade elementary school students. This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of 74 shy fourth-grade elementary school students. Following screening, 30 eligible students were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). Data were collected using Barton’s Communication Skills Questionnaire, the Speech Performance Scale, the Vocabulary subtest of the Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and the Eysenck Self-Confidence Questionnaire. The experimental group participated in eight 45-minute sessions of musical dramatic games, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance, with pretest scores statistically controlled. Multivariate analysis of covariance indicated a significant overall effect of musical dramatic games on the combined dependent variables (Pillai’s Trace=0.910, F=52.913, p<0.001, η²=0.910). After controlling for pretest scores, significant intervention effects were found for verbal skills (F=70.964, p<0.001, η²=0.747), oracy (F=46.162, p<0.001, η²=0.658), vocabulary (F=50.588, p<0.001, η²=0.678), and self-confidence (F=62.634, p<0.001, η²=0.723). These results demonstrated substantial intervention effects across all four outcomes. Musical dramatic games appear to be an effective activity-based educational approach for enhancing the linguistic, communicative, and psychological functioning of shy elementary school students. Integrating role-play, music, dialogue, and group performance may provide a supportive context in which shy students can practice verbal expression, expand their vocabulary, develop public-speaking abilities, experience successful social participation, and strengthen their self-confidence.