The impact of digital comics as a teaching and learning tool in economics education on future-ready talent development: the mediating role of attitude

Abstract

Economics education at the tertiary level dominated by text-heavy materials that often disengage students. At the same time, the potential of digital comics as an innovative pedagogical alternative are insufficiently examine. Hence, this study examines the impact of digital comics (IMP) on students’ learning in economic subjects at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Melaka, with particular focus on the mediating role of attitude (ATT). A quantitative design was employed using structured questionnaires distributed to 146 diploma and degree students to measure the determinants of perceived IMP. Data were analyzed using the partial least squares– structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that ATT and subjective norms (SN) significantly influence the IMP, while digital literacy (DL) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) exhibit no direct effects. In addition, ATT significantly mediates the relationships with SN, PBC and the IMP. Practically, the findings suggest that lecturers can embed digital comics into case-based class activities to enhance engagement and conceptual understanding. The novelty of the study indicated that this is the first studies applying theory of planned behavior (TPB) to digital comics in economic education. This study also offers future research which can be extend the studies into experimental, longitudinal and cross-sectional.