Psychologists give gaming the thumbs up

[SUBMAN1]

When I was growing up, games were a waste of a persons mind!

-S

Psychologists give gaming the thumbs up

By James Sherwood [More by this author]
18th August 2008 13:47 GMT

A trio of psychology reports examining the benefits of videogames have unanimously concluded that some titles can have positive effects on their players.

The research, which was released yesterday at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in Boston, Massachusetts, found that people of all ages and from all walks can benefit from certain types of videogames, such as brain training and educational games.

For example, one research paper conducted by psychologists Fran Blumberg and Sabrina Ismailer from Fordham University, New York measured the ability of 122 fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grade US school children to problem solve while playing a videogame.

The kids had to think aloud for 20 minutes, while playing the title, and researchers assessed their problem-solving ability by examining the types of “cognitive, goal-oriented, game-oriented, emotional and contextual statements” the young gamers made.

“Younger children may show a greater need for focusing on small aspects of a given problem than older children, even in a leisure-based situation such as playing video games," concluded Blumberg.

A separate study, conducted by psychologists Douglas Gentile and William Stone from Iowa State University, found that a videogame requiring spatial skills and hand dexterity used to train surgeons resulted in keyhole surgery being performed “significantly faster” in testing sessions.

“Games are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but are powerful educational tools and have many effects we might not have expected they could,” summarised Gentile.

A third study, based on nearly 2000 World of Warcraft players, found that 86 per cent shared their game knowledge, in discussion posts, with other gamers. Roughly 50 per cent also used “systematic and evaluative processes” based on scientific reasoning to overcome in-game problems.

Not all videogames have a positive effect though. Grand Theft Auto has already been claimed to have inspired one group of teenagers to lob Molotov cocktails at cars in their local neighbourhood. And a Thai teen recently admitted to stealing a taxi because he wanted to see if it was as easy to do as it is in the game.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/08...up_videogames/

[Digital_Trucker]

As usual, every ten or twenty years the "popular opinion" reverses itself. What caused cancer 10 years ago prevents it now and what was good for you 10 years ago will now kill you :rotfl:

[Wolfehunter]

duh I didn't need a specialist to tell me that.... My old man used to say games rott the mind... I always argued it enhanced it. I said Videogames tend to rott the body hehehe.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Even though history repeats itself, I never get tired of watching it.


Hehe, it even repeats itself more frequently on channel 70. How many more Modern Marvels re-runs do I have to see before something good comes on?

[SUBMAN1]

That's a good show. Heavy Metal is also entertaining, as is Dogfights!

-S

[Frederf]

This is as dumb as saying "Eating is good for you." Eating good things is good for you and eating bad things is bad for you. Not all food is made equal and not all games are.

[kiwi_2005]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

When I was growing up, games were a waste of a persons mind!

-S

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/08...up_videogames/

A third study, based on nearly 2000 World of Warcraft players, found that 86 per cent shared their game knowledge, in discussion posts, with other gamers. Roughly 50 per cent also used “systematic and evaluative processes” based on scientific reasoning to overcome in-game problems.

Ive met players in wow that will chat with you for hours happy to explain the game to newbies like myself one time. When i raid with my Guild we go to great lengths in setting up a stragedy plan for the next raid - ie what traps i lay, which boss we taking out, so and so will be protecting the healers tonight, who's tanking etc., Many times after some very serious planning we will head into the raid only to be wiped out within the first 10min:rotfl:But its still fun.

[Skybird]

In good and bad, depending on quantities and opposite input: your thinking becomes what you put into your brain. the eudcation you get from only reading comics does not compare to the one you get from going to university and reading world literature. Some games may be able to train you let's say systemic thinking and understanding of networks and complex interrelations. Others may train your reflexes only, or your eye-hand-coordingation. Obviously, you need to look closer. You could call SH3/4 a historic game, but you won't get any relevant historic education from playing it, you won'T win the intelletcual ability to analyse the conflict and form an educated opinion about how it emerged, why, and what came as a consequencesfrom it after WW2. So, the educational value of SH3/4 nevertheless is almost nil.

To assume games do no effect cognitive functions and behavior in different ways, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, is illogical.

But possible that the subject itself does not even get a clue on how it has changed in personality, and thus will reject the possibility alltogether. But the experts to assess that are not the effected individuals in this case, but the outside observers.

[Mush Martin]

Retracted by author

M

[Skybird]

Aren't you a bit obsessed with hairsplitting here, and focus on an issue that is no issue at all? I was comparing two examples. what is so difficult in seeing that?

[Frame57]

I actually saw an add where Cigarettes were advertised as being "Healthful". It was an old nostalgia thing. I thought how funny that if Rob Reiner saw the add he would have a coronary himself.