Play to Learn:
Master Behavioral Statistics
The games on this site are beneficial, free & mobile device-friendly. Learn in a supportive environment.
26 Games for Reinforcing Statistical Concepts and Interpreting Results
6 Activities for Gaining Experience with SPSS Statistical Software
Reinforce Statistical Concepts and Practice Interpreting Statistical Results
Alternative Menu: Glance through the screenshots for each game.
Probability is reported as a p-value. Other than for the first two games, the p-value is always two-tailed.
Inferential Statistics, p-value
Even for a one-tailed test, probability is reported as Sig. (2-tailed). Wording similar to SPSS output (e.g., including Levene's test for the Independent t test).
Inferential Statistics, Sig. (2-tailed)
Effect Size
Game Simulations for Learning SPSS®
Data Entry
Summarizing Results - With Tables, Graphs, and Statistics
Hypothesis Testing
Compare a Sample with a Population - The Single Sample t-Test
[Additional Tutorials/Games to be added Spring 2025]
Learn SPSS with hands-on tutorials and games, video tutorials, and slides. These resources are free, online, and mobile device-friendly. Equivalent text is included for students with visual impairments. All screenshots of the IBM SPSS Statistics software ("SPSS") appearing within these activities are Reprint Courtesy of IBM Corporation©.
Navigate through a sequence of screenshots 'as if' using the SPSS software package.
About Play to Learn (P2L.io)
Robert & John Kelley
Statistics Games and Activities Developed by Robert G. Kelley, Ph.D.
Several of the statistics games were initially developed during my Spring 2018 sabbatical at MiraCosta College. Their development was loosely based on perceptual learning theory. Special thanks to Mr. John Kelley for assistance with programming. The SPSS activities were developed Spring 2023, with more expected during my upcoming Spring 2025 sabbatical.
These games and activities may be referenced as a group using:
Kelley, R. (2022) Play to Learn: Mastering Behavioral Statistics [Online games]. http://www.P2L.io
Assumptions, Goals & Purpose
Learning can be fun and occur through game-like testing (e.g., frequent, rapid, low stakes)
The time needed to develop expertise can be shortened by using numerous non-repeating examples in multiple formats, with immediate performance feedback.
Experiences are easier to apply and more meaningful with the use of real world examples and simulations.
Canvas Credit (Optional)
Instructors using the Canvas LMS may award their students credit for successfully completing the assigned games. Each game is presented as a Canvas Quiz question; a 'completion code' that serves as the correct answer to the quiz question is provided to the student upon successfully completing the game. As unlimited tries are allowed, this approach supports mastery-based learning (See an example of integrating the statistics games within Canvas). Faculty can learn more by reaching out to Dr. Robert Kelley at rkelleymcc@gmail.com
Research Presentations
Gamification of Statistics poster presentation by Robert Kelley, Ph.D. at the PsychTERMS Conference 2022 (Teaching to Enhance Research Methods & Statistics in Psychology); equivalent text for the poster.
Learning SPSS: Tutorials and Games; Fall 2023 poster presentation by Robert Kelley, Ph.D. at the PsychTERMS Conference 2023 (Teaching to Enhance Research Methods & Statistics in Psychology); equivalent text for the poster.
