aggression - video games Flashcards
(17 cards)
Media influences of aggression: what are the 4 types of studies do they use for research into video games
-experimental
-correlational
-longitudinal
-meta-analyses
what experimental study was done for effects of computer games on aggression, who did it?
lab-based study: bartholow + Anderson 2002
procedure of Bartholow and Anderson lab study
-students played violent videos games (mortal combat) or non violent games (tournament golf) for 10mins.
-then carried out Taylor competitive reaction task game (TCRTT)
-standard lab measure of aggression which students delivered blasts go white noise at chosen volumes to punish (non-existent) opponent.
findings of Bartholow and Anderson lab study
-violent games S selected significantly higher noise levels than non-violent Players
-5.97 and 4.60 decibels
who did the correlational study for effects of computer games on aggression and sample
DeLisi et al 2013
-studied 227 juvenile offenders with history of serious aggressive behaviour.
e.g. hitting parent, teachers or gang fighting
what was DeLisi et al procedure
-used structured interviews gathered data on several measures of aggression + violent computer games
what did DeLisi et al find
found: offenders with aggressive beh correlated with how often they play violent computer games + how much they enjoyed them.
-Researchers argued: link so well established that aggression should be considered public health issue + computer game violence a significant risk factor.
who did a longitudinal study was done for effect of video games on aggression and his aim
Roberson et al 2013
-aim: find link between ‘excessive’ tv viewing in childhood + aggressive beh in adulthood.
what was Roberson et al’s sample
studied 1037 people born in New Zealand 1972 + 73
what did Roberson et al measure
measured their TV viewing hours at regular intervals up to age of 26
what did Roberson et al findings
found: time spent watching TV was reliable predictor of aggressive beh in adulthood - measured by convictions for violent crimes.
-watched more tv more likely to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.
what did Roberson et al study show for aggression
shows: most important media related factor in aggression may be amount of TV watched rather than whether it has violent content or not.
who did the meta-analysis for effect of computer games on aggression
Anderson et al 2010
how many studies did Anderson et al use and how many types of methodology
136 studies 3 types of methodology
what was Anderson et al’s findings
found association with aggressive beh and exposure to violent video games.
-findings true in both male + females across collectivist + individualist cultures.
-higher quality studies in analysis showed even greater significant effect.
what did Anderson et al claim for aggression from his meta-anaylsis
claim the effect of violent game playing on aggressive behaviour is greater effect of 2nd hand smoke on cancer.
-analysis also showed no indication that publication bias influenced the results.
Evaluation of the effects of computer games on aggression
Experimental Studies:
+ allow us to establish casual link between media aggression + aggressive beh.
-lab studies = artificial + unrealistic situations
Taylor competitive reaction time task: unrealistic.
also don’t involve any fear if retaliation unlike the real world.
Correlational studies:
-limitation inability to draw cause-and-effect conclusions. no variables are manipulated or controlled + no random allocation.
Longitudinal studies:
-can study long term changes in aggressive behaviour over time and media influences.
-also views people as active consumers rather than passive which is more realistic of how people interact with media.
-however longitudinal vulnerable to confounding variables.
-many other sources interact with media influences e.g. role models.
-becomes difficult to separate them all
