Aggression Media Influences The Effects of Computer Games 16m

Question 1

A01 Experimental Studies - Barthlow & Anderson

Answer 1

Barthlow & Anderson conducted a lab study.
Participants either played a violent or non-violent video game.
The taylor competitive reaction time test was carried out as a lab measure of aggression.
Pariticpants blasted white noise to punish opponents.
Higher noises blasted were from participants who played violent video games (5.97) compared to those who played non-violent video games (4.6).
This shows that exposure to violent video games results in individuals displaying aggressive behaviours to others and is immediate.

Question 2

A03 Experimental Studies

Answer 2

The lab study lacks ecological validity as they cant measure real life aggression.
White noise blasts can only be used as a short term effect and have very little to do with aggressive behaviour.
Another reason why this lab study is unrealistic for measuring aggression is that it does not involve the fear of retaliation.
This is due to the experimenter allowing the participant to be ‘safely’ aggressive.
This cannot generalise to outside of the lab setting therefor reudcing validity.

Question 3

A01 Correlational Studies - Matt Delisi

Answer 3

Matt Delisi studied 227 juvinile offenders which all had history of aggressive behaviours such as hitting a teacher / parent of gang fighting.
By the use of structured interviews they gathered data on several measures of aggression and violent computer game playing.
There was a positive correlation between an individuals level of aggression and amount of time spent playing violent video games.
There was also a correlation between levels of aggression and enjoyment of playing violent video games.
This shows the link between violent video games and violent aggression in real life.

Question 4

A03 Correlational Studies

Answer 4

It relies too much on correlational evidence.
Since there are no variables controlled it is hard to establish whether playing violent video games leads to aggression or if aggressive people are more likely to chosee playing violent video games.
This could suggest that computer games have little impact on developing aggression.
This suggests a causal link between aggression and violent video games cannot be established therefore reducing validity of this research.

Question 5

A01 Longitudinal Studies - Moller & Krahe

Answer 5

Moller & Krahe used 295 German adolescents and measured their violent video game usage and endorsement of aggressive norms.
143 were followed up 30 months later. It was found that at initial measurement there was a direct relationship between video game usage and aggressive norms.
It was found that exposure to violent games act as a predictor of physical aggression 30 months later.
This shows violent video game exposure can have long term effects on individuals such as aggressive behaviour.

Question 6

A03 Longitudinal Studies

Answer 6

A problem with longitudinal studies into effects of video games is since they occur over a long period of time other extraneous factors can also impact aggression.
Eg with the 30 month later follow up gap Moller and Krahe it is likely that other factors could of interefed to impact aggression.
It cannot ignore factors such as peers with aggression norms and aggression increased by testosterone levels due to biological maturation in adolescence.
This also questions the validity of measuring aggression.