Studies+Regarding+the+Effects+of+Gaming

__** Studies Regarding the Effects of Gaming **__ If nothing else, the video gaming timeline shows that game systems have become much more sophisticated over the years. As the graphics in video games became more and more realistic, parental and societal concerns over violence in video games increases drastically. There have been many studies that have tried to determine whether violence in video games can make a person violent. There have also been studies done that show a link between video game play and intelligence. The following represents a small sampling of studies,expert opinions, and research on the matter:


 * __#1 - Study - Indiana University School of Medicine__**

In 2006 at the Indiana University School of Medicine brain scanning technology was used in an attempt to determine whether video games make kids more violent. The study required its participants to play one of two action video games. The first game was "Need for Speed: Underground" which is a non violent racing game and the second was "Medal of Honor: Frontline" which is a very violent first person shooting game. A group of 44 teens were divided into two groups and randomly assigned to play one of the two games. The kids were given MRIs of their brains immediately after they finished playing the game for a period of 30 minutes. The scans showed a negative effect of the brains of the teens that played "Medal of Honor", but no effect on the brains of the teens that played "Need for Speed". What researchers mean by "negative effects" is an increase in emotional arousal and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition and attention. It is not clear, however, whether these negative effects were temporary or permanent. In other words, violent video games could create a temporary increase in agressive tendencies that resets itself to normal levels after a period of time away from the violent video game. Vince Matthews was the principal investigator on the study. He believes that although there is a correlation between violent video games and aggressive behavior, he is not willing to directly link violent behavior to video game play. Further research is still being done, but for now the conclusion from this study is that parents need to be more aware of the games that there children are playing. Read more [|here]


 * __#2 - Expert Opinion - Ludwig von Mises Institute__**

Art Caden, a research fellow of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, believes that it is a stretch to assume that playing violent video games causes violence and crime. Mr. Caden concedes that statistically, people who play violent video games are also those who are more likely to commit heinous crimes than others. Many experts have concluded that violent video games cause violence. Caden's conclusion is simply that people who are likely to commit violent crimes are simply attracted to violent video games as an additional outlet for their already aggressive personalities. Furthermore, Caden hypothesizes that violent video games might actually serve as a substitute for violent crime. He believes that people that are likely to commit crimes might actually be able to get their violence "fix" from violent video games instead of violent crimes. The basis for his theory comes from empirical studies conducted by Winai Wongsurat and Todd Kendall regarding the relationship between pornography and rape. This study concluded that access to pornography by sexually aggressive people actually leads to a reduction in sex crimes. Caden believes that regulations restricting access to violent video games may actually increase the social problem that they are intended to correct. Although Caden did not conduct a study, he is using the results of Wongsurat and Kendall as a basis for his conclusion. Read more [|here]


 * __#3 - Expert Opinion - University of Essex__**

Patrick Kierkegaard of the University of Essex, England believes that there is no scientific evidence that video games are anything but harmless and do not lead to read world aggression. Kierkegaard has reviewed many studies including the brain scans carried out while gamers played video games, which seem to support a connection between playing violent games and activation of the brain's aggression regions. His conclusion is that there is no obvious link between real violence and the creation of video games. He points out that violent crime amoung the young has decreased dramatically since the early 1990's even though video games have increased in popularity. In 2005, there were 1,360,088 violent crimes in America compared with 1,423,677 violent crimes in 2004. If there were truly a link between playing violent video games and committing violent crimes, the world would be seeing a huge increase in violent crime as violent video game sales have increased. This is just not the case. Kierkegaard emphasizes that fact that his research is inconclusive and that it is possible that certain types of video gaming could affect the emotions and attitudes of the player. However, he points out that reading violent books and watching violent television programming can also lead to violent behavior in people that are predisposed to violence. Read more [|here]


 * __#4 - Research - University of Rochester__**

Research from the University of Rochester provides evidence that playing first-person computer and video games improves visual attention skills. This research was published in a widely respected science journal called Nature. Dr. Daphne Bavelier has shown that people who regularly play first person video games are 30% to 50% better at absorbing everything that happens around them. This is just the first advantage that has come from studying people that play games that require the player to navigate pretend, computer generated environments. Because this research concluded that these games have a dramatic impact on a person's perception skills, it is believed by many researchers that additional advantages will soon be discovered. In fact, doctors and scientists are now considering that playing these video games may help in the recovery of stroke victims. They also believe that these games could help keep elderly drivers alert to the traffic around them. The researchers remind readers, however, that perception skills represent just one area of skills. Too much video game play certainly limits other activities that could improve other useful skills. Balance is the key here. Read more [|here]


 * __#5 - Study - Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)__**

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) conducted a study regarding the relationship between video game playing and intelligence. Eight hundred children ranging in age from 7 to 12 were examined, questioned, and tested over a one year period. The ESRC found that the children that played video games regularly were more intelligent than the others. Further, they found that children who played XBox, Play Station, Wii, etc. had a greater capacity for muscle coordination and concentration. In addition, this study found that video game fans have more friends, work harder at school, and are often ahead of their classmates. The scientists at the ESRC relied on data collected by Colombia University. Their data showed that children that regularly engage in video game playing are usually successful students. The research points to the fact that gaming is at least interactive. Playing interactive video games is, in most cases, a substitution for time that would have otherwise been spent watching television. Age appropriate games are often an education tool. The more complex the game, the greater the increase in attention span. Scientists involved in the study emphasize that these results are based on an average (1 1/2 to 2 hours per day) use of video games. More than that and there would not be enough time to spend on other educational activities like homework. Read more [|here]


 * __#6 - Study published in Journal of Adolescence__**

A study conducted by Douglas Gentile and David Walsh of the National Institute on Media and Family; by Paul Lynch of the University of Oklahoma Medical School; and by Jennifer Ruh Linder of Linfield College was done to ascertain what effects, if any, video games have on adolescents. The study first intended to document video game habits of children and the level of parental monitering of game usage. Secondly, the study intended to examine the relationship between violent video game play and hostility, arguments with teachers, school grades, and physical fights. Six hundred seven 8th and 9th graders participated in the study. The study concluded that kids that are exposed to video game violence regularly were more likely to be involved in physical fights and were also more likely to perform poorly in school. Children that were already characteristically aggressive had a more direct and stronger connection between violent video game play and aggressive behavior and delinquency. The content of the games affected the relationship between amount of play and school performance. If children played educational video games, they were less likely to perform poorly in school. In addition, if parents moniter and limit video game usage, the negative effects of game play are reduced drastically.


 * __#7 - Facts for Families__**

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) published an article in August of 2006 regarding the relationship between video games and violence. The AACAP points out that many of the popular video games involve killing animals or people, using drugs and alcohol, criminal behavior, sexual exploitation, racial steretypes, gender stereotypes, obscenity, and foul language. However, there is new research that suggests that some video games actually promote problem solving and help develop fine motor skills and coordincation. AACAP recommends that in order to help children enjoy video games while limiting the associated risks involved, follow the guidelines below:

1. Check the Entertainment Software Rating Board ratings to determine the content of the game. 2. Select games that are age appropriate. 3. Play video games with the child to experience content first hand. 4. Set rules about game content and playing time. 5. Warn children about dangers related to Internet contacts when online gaming. 6. Talk with other parents about video game rules. 7. Be a role model to your child when playing video games.

The AACAP indicates that these limits will decrease or eliminate the negative effects of video game play in most cases.

The above studies, research, and expert opinions show that even the experts are not in agreement on the effects that video games can have on the developing mind. Not allowing children to play video games could actually cause a child to develop without the same fine motor skills that many of his or her peers possess because they were allowed to play video games. On the other hand, a child that plays no video games, will not run the risk of developing the negative characteristics listed in studies above. Parental involvement and common sense goes a long way in manuevering the world of video gaming.


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