Gamers Research Articles

Examination of gender‐based video game‐playing classes: Influencing determinants and relations to academic achievement

AbstractBackgroundTheir ubiquity is particularly notable as video games become increasingly intertwined with the technological revolution. Despite this prominence, gender disparities in adolescent video gaming remain under‐explored.ObjectivesThis research aims to determine the frequency classes of video game playing based on gender, analyse the variables (age of first digital device/internet use, weekday/weekend internet frequency in and out of school, economic, social, and cultural status) that might influence assignment to these classes, and reveal the differences in PISA scores among these classes.MethodsOur study utilises multiple group latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression to investigate the video gaming frequencies of 6890 Turkish students (49.1% female, 50.9% male) from the PISA‐2018 exam. A three‐step multiple logistic regression was employed to identify the effect of the variables on assignment probabilities. Also, the multivariate Delta method tested mean differences between classes for PISA scores.Results and ConclusionsThis study classifies Turkish students from PISA 2018 into four video gaming preference frequency classes (frequent, regular, casual, and non‐video game players) based on gender. Our study reveals that frequent male gamers begin using digital devices and the internet earlier than their female counterparts, spending more time gaming outside school. Notably, the frequency of video game play, which varies by gender, was found to have a significant effect on academic achievement.

Cognitive Patterns and Problematic Use of Video Games in Adolescents: A Cluster Analysis.

Video game playing (VGP) is an increasingly common leisure activity among children and adolescents, although in some cases, it is accompanied by problems due to misuse. A sample of 2884 children and adolescents aged between 12 and 20, representative of the Community of Madrid (Spain), were studied using a cluster analysis to explore the existence of cognitive patterns associated with engagement, attitudes, and concurrent cognitions. We also explored the relationship between these patterns and problematic VGP, using the 2173 gamers as a reference. The concurrent cognitions were not qualitatively different between the problematic users and the others. High engagement and high activation of concurrent cognitions (intensity and frequency) showed the greatest relationship with problematic VGP. The results suggest the existence of different groups of gamers and the relevance to include psycho-educational aspects in intervention programs, as well as the training of specific skills, especially those related with the control of activation. Limitations related to the sample size and potential supplementary analyses are acknowledged.

‘I Can Tell You It’s a Bit of a Gamble’: A Qualitative Analysis of How People Who Engage in Gaming and Gambling Understand a Link Between These Two Behaviours

This article explores the attention given to potential motives and determinants of the transition process from video games to gambling. Forty individual interviews were conducted among active video game players (n = 20), and people diagnosed with a gambling disorder who had the experience of playing video games (n = 20). A qualitative thematic analysis was employed to explore the collected empirical data. The range of factors considered responsible for the transition from playing video games to gambling included experiencing similar emotional states, the presence of gambling in video games, advertising of gambling companies in video games, loot boxes. The awareness of factors associated with the development of gambling disorders among video game players has an important role in informing prevention policies in the rapidly changing video gaming and gambling market. Decision-makers should introduce effective regulation of the use of gambling components in video games to protect gamers against the gambling-related harm.

Young video game players’ self-identified toxic gaming behaviour

In this study we analyze negative behaviour in the context of digital gaming through interviews of players (N=12) aged 16–27 who self-reported as having behaved in a manner they acknowledged as toxic. Through thematic analysis of the interviews, we highlight three central themes: Games as affective spaces; affordances and norms facilitating negative behaviours; and players’ navigation of negative behaviours. Our study demonstrates the situational and affective nature of negative behaviour and offers solutions for reducing it in gaming.

Interactive Screen-Based Activities Predict Worse Actigraphic Sleep Health That Night Among Adolescents

PurposeTo determine the micro-longitudinal effects of duration and timing of screen-based activities on sleep within and between adolescents. MethodsDaily survey and actigraphy data from the age 15 wave of the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Four hundred seventy five adolescents provided three or more days of valid daily survey and nighttime sleep data. ResultsWithin-person results showed that on days when adolescents played video games more than their daytime average ± SE (1.3 ± 1.2 hours), sleep onset (6 ± 2 minutes, p < .01) and midpoint (4 ± 2 minutes, p < .02) were delayed for each additional hour of gaming. Between-person results showed that for each hour adolescents used screens to communicate with friends across the day, sleep onset was later (11 ± 3 minutes, p < .01), sleep midpoint was later (8 ± 3 minutes, p < .01), and sleep duration was shorter (−5 ± 2 minutes, p < .03). Adolescents who used screens to communicate with friends or play video games in the hour before bed had later sleep onset (30 ± 14 minutes, p < .03) and midpoint (25 ± 13 minutes, p < .05). DiscussionAmong adolescents, passive screen usage such as browsing the Internet or watching videos may not affect sleep timing or duration, but limiting interactive screen-based activities could protect adolescent sleep health and well-being.

The state of Hausa children’s folktales and play-songs in Gombe, Nigeria

In this paper I investigate the state of Hausa children’s folktales and play-songs in Gombe, Nigeria to ascertain whether they (folktales and play-songs of children) are still alive and active in this culturally important town in northern Nigeria. My specific objectives are to examine how much parents and their children know of Hausa children’s folktales and play-songs and argue that folktales and play-songs are to some extent infused with modern technologies because of globalisation and that mass media has taken over the dissemination of such cultures. To achieve this aim, I employ questionnaires as the instrument of data collection. The subjects for the research are 150 parents and their school-going and out-of-school children aged 20-above and 0–10 respectively. Arguing that globalisation impacts the oral transmission of cultural knowledge more than ever, I adopt technauriture and cultauriture as the theoretical models. Analysis of the data reveals a more than 90% awareness of folktales and play-songs from all respondents. However, some school-going children prefer to watch such oral traditions via satellite rather than listening to a narration as it enhances their language development and nurtures and preserves culture using the paradigm of technology with audio-visual media. The out-of-school children, on the other hand, listen to the narration but are not captivated by it because it only uses the oral means of dissemination. They prefer to watch television and play video games as this educates and entertains using technology, orality, and visuals.

Global visual attention SPAN in different video game genres

Video games, specifically action video games, have been demonstrated to be a useful tool in improving certain visual aspects in the general population. Visual attention span, the ability to simultaneously process multiple distinct visual elements during a single fixation, has been shown to improve among action video game players. The goal of this study was to verify that visual attention span is better not only in action video games, but also in other video game genres such as sports simulators or role-playing games. A total of 41 participants, aged 18 to 40 years old, were asked about the type of video games they were playing, name and genre, and the frequency of play. Visual attention span was assessed in all participants. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to the genre of video game they played. The total percentage of letter identification in the visual attention span was not significantly different between groups. A significant difference was found in the sixth position letter, and the right hemifield performance between groups, especially in sports simulators and action video game participants who showed a better performance. The action video game group showed a significant correlation between visual attention span performance and weekly hours played. Playing regularly different genres other than action video games can contribute to raise visual attention resources.

Video Game Playing and Internet Gaming Disorder: A Profile of Young Adolescents.

In recent times, growing concern has arisen regarding the utilization of technology, video games, and the emergence of internet gaming disorder (IGD), particularly among young adolescents. This worry arises from the ambiguity in distinguishing between "normal" and "problematic" video game behavior, despite efforts to establish clear criteria for defining both. The goal of this study is to outline distinct profiles of adolescent video game players and identify variables associated with their gaming practices that correlate with problematic gaming. The study utilizes a substantial sample of adolescents drawn from a representative cross-section of educational institutions in the city of Madrid, ranging in age from 12 to 16 years. In total, 1516 participants (75%) acknowledged engaging in video game activities. The research delves into characterizing prevailing profiles of video game participants within this cohort and scrutinizes the profile that aligns with issues of IGD. In summary, approximately three-quarters of young adolescents participate in video gaming, with males constituting the majority. Typically, participants immerse themselves in action genre games for over three days per week, with males exhibiting a higher frequency than their female counterparts. Elevated gaming frequency correlates with heightened IGD scores, particularly among females. Young adolescents show a preference for game consoles (males) and mobile phones (females) and often play alone at home. Specific factors such as the device used, online mode, company, and gaming location impact the IGD scores. These profiles aim to assist families and educators in recognizing potential risk behaviors and IGD concerns; however, it is crucial to emphasize the necessity for case-specific screening and evaluation before deliberating on such behaviors.

Performing an Inductive Thematic Analysis of Semi-Structured Interviews With a Large Language Model: An Exploration and Provocation on the Limits of the Approach

Large Language Models (LLMs) have emerged as powerful generative Artificial Intelligence solutions. This paper presents results and reflections of an experiment done with the LLM GPT 3.5-Turbo to perform an inductive Thematic Analysis (TA). Previous research has worked on conducting deductive analysis. Thematic Analysis is a qualitative method for analysis commonly used in social sciences and it is based on interpretations by the human analyst(s) and the identification of explicit and latent meanings in qualitative data. The paper presents the motivations for attempting this analysis; it reflects on how the six phases to a TA proposed by Braun and Clarke can partially be reproduced with the LLM and it reflects on what are the model’s outputs. The paper uses two datasets of open access semi-structured interviews, previously analysed by other researchers. The first dataset contains interviews with videogame players, and the second is a dataset of interviews with lecturers teaching data science in a University. This paper used the analyses previously conducted on these datasets to compare with the results produced by the LLM. The results show that the model can infer most of the main themes from previous research. This shows that using LLMs to perform an inductive TA is viable and offers a good degree of validity. The discussion offers some recommendations for working with LLMs in qualitative analysis.

Computer Games are Scalable and Engaging Alternatives to Traditional Undergraduate Mathematics Homework

Exercise is essential for mastering mathematics, but it faces two major hurdles. First, students are often not motivated to do their homework. Second, checking traditional homework is a manual and labor-intensive process that becomes harder to support as the number of students increases. We argue that computer games could alleviate both problems. In contrast to homework, students are willing to spend many hours playing video games. And because video games keep track of the gamers' performance, they offer a scalable solution to the problem of checking the homework. We describe an experiment to augment traditional homework with a computer game that we have developed for exercising the topics of symmetry groups in an undergraduate college course. We describe the mathematical background of the subject matter, how we have embedded the mathematics into the game, the empirical results of playing the game, and the insights we have gained from this experiment.

Association Between Excessive Screen Time and Language Delay in Preschool Children

Background: Language is a fundamental medium for expression and comprehension of complex ideas and is acquired from early childhood through both receptive and expressive forms, such as spoken words or sign language. The initial years of life are critical for language development, and the rise of digital device usage during this period prompts an investigation into its potential impact. Objective: This study aims to explore the connection between excessive screen time and language delay in preschool children, a subject of increasing relevance in the digital age. Methods: A cross-sectional approach was taken, gathering data from the caregivers of 318 preschool children in Lahore, using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-3 (ASQ-3) to measure developmental milestones. SPSS version 23 was employed for statistical analysis. Results: The study included 318 participants, with a gender distribution of 218 females (68.6%) and 100 males (31.4%). In terms of device usage, 209 children (65.7%) used mobile phones, while 91 (28.6%) watched television, and 18 (5.7%) played video games. Regarding screen time duration, 65 children (20.4%) used devices for 1-3 hours, 105 (33.0%) for 3-6 hours, 113 (35.5%) for 6-9 hours, and 35 (11.0%) for more than 9 hours. Notably, for children with over 9 hours of screen time, only 27% met their language developmental milestones at 33 months, which reduced with age, culminating in just 20.1% meeting milestones by 60 months. Conclusion: The study's findings suggest a significant negative correlation between excessive screen time and language development in preschool children, with a clear trend of decreasing milestone achievement with increased screen time. This highlights the need for strategic interventions to manage screen time in early childhood.

Study of English self-learning perceptions throughout video games of narrative and fantasy

Young people spend a considerable amount of time playing video games. As English is an international language, most games are developed in English. Users, who are often non-native speakers have to infer meanings by interacting with the controls, actions, artifacts, texts, and other paralinguistic elements. Narrative and fantasy video games can contain linguistic corpora of more than 20,000 words that players have to grapple with in order to understand the principles of the game, actions, and strategically determine their next steps to progress in the game. In this process, learners may engage in incidental learning. The aim of this study was to determine whether players are aware of language learning as it emerges while participating in these game-based activities and whether playing narrative and fantasy video games can lead to long-term language success. Four hundred and fifty-eight subjects completed an online ad hoc questionnaire addressing various areas of language learning while playing video games. The results indicated that playing narrative and fantasy video games can be an effective way to learn vocabulary and that the newly acquired terms can be stored in long-term memory.

MM-Tap: Adaptive and Scalable Tap Localization on Ubiquitous Surfaces With mm-Level Accuracy

Transforming physical surfaces into virtual interfaces can extend the interaction capability of many exciting metaverse applications in the future. Recent advances in vibration-based tap sensing show promise for this vision using passive vibration signals. However, current approaches based on Time-Difference-of-Arrival (TDoA) triangulation suffer the impact of fluctuant wave velocity due to the dispersive and heterogeneous nature of solid mediums, failing to meet the performance requirement for practical use. In this paper, we present MM-Tap, a vibration-based tap localization system that can transform ubiquitous surfaces into virtual touch screens with low overhead. A novel localization scheme is proposed based on the finding of spatio-temporal mapping between tap locations and TDoA values, which pushes the accuracy limits of vibration-based tap sensing from unstable cm-level to mm-level. We investigate the geometry of the sensor layout and design a model-based method to synthesize tap data, which enables MM-Tap to adapt to various surface materials and respond to arbitrary sensing scales after a few seconds of calibration. We combine MM-Tap with a COTS projector and facilitate a digitally augmented surface where users can play video games with low latency.

Toward Stress Detection During Gameplay: A Survey

In day-to-day life stress can arise due to various factors including work life demands, external situations and health issues. Stress becomes a concern when it affects a person's mental health, and sometimes it can even result in other chronic illnesses. Currently, stress detection studies in the literature are often limited to laboratory studies or to specific situations. However, daily stressors are on-going and therefore detection of stress in everyday life (outside the laboratory environments) is important to improve the wellbeing of individuals. Computer games is an entertainment media that can be found in almost every household in the modern society. Statistics show that people spend hours playing computer games daily. The amount of data that gameplay generates and interactivity they provide via various human computer interfaces have a lot of potential in identifying behaviour patterns of the players that could assist in the process of stress detection. As such, this survey attempts to identify the extent to which computer games can be used as a medium for stress detection. Towards this end, this survey reviews the existing stress detection studies, both laboratory techniques, as well as the techniques that can be used in a home-based environment. Finally, it summarises the stress detection techniques that can be used within games in order to make it an everyday technology that can be used to detect and monitor stress. In addition, it is expected that development of such a technology will be useful in providing objective data to the health care professionals for intervention and management. Such a technology is even more required in the current unprecedented situation the world has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic as it can be developed as a technology to manage mental health issues people are facing due to home isolation.

GAMBLING HABITS AMONG VIDEO GAME PLAYERS

Introduction: Gambling is a legal and socially accepted recreational activity that can progress into a serious public health problem. The prevalence of gambling is higher among men of younger age and lower economic status, and older divorced men. There are many similarities between playing video games and gambling that the industry encourages by implementing the elements gambling into video games, and the elements of video games in gambling, but despite the similarities, in problem use we recognize two separate behavioral disorders. Methods and participants: The research was conducted on an intentional and judgmental sample of adolescents and young adults who play video games. A questionnaire containing questions on sociodemographic characteristics, video game playing and gambling habits, and the SOGS-RA was used to assess the gambling risk. Results: Most of the participants gamble very rarely or not at all, but 5.1% of the participants gamble every day. Almost all of the participants play several types of games of chance, with lottery games, sports betting and games on electronic devices leading the way. Pronounced problems with gambling were recognized in 28.3% of the research participants. Discussion: The lifetime prevalence of gambling in this research is similar to the results of other research conducted among video game players, although the results of all research in this area are not homogeneous. When comparing the results of gambling among video game players and the general population, the prevalence of gambling among video game players is significantly higher than in the general population. Conclusion: Adolescent and young adult video game players play more games of chance, and prefer gambling games that have a higher addictive potential. Considering the age, easy accessibility and the difficult recognition of the development of problem gambling, it is important to focus preventive activities on the youngest age group. Key words: games of chance, video game players, problem gambling

Order of first-play in simulated versus monetary gambling.

Simulated gambling products, like loot boxes and social casino games, contain gambling elements, but are not classified as gambling. They are available to minors, raising concerns about a "gateway effect" into gambling. This study examined the time course of young people's engagement in simulated and monetary gambling, and associations between simulated gambling and gambling problems and harm. A necessary, although not sufficient, condition for simulated games leading to real money gambling is that simulated play must come first. Participants were 1,026 young adults (aged 18-25 years) who played video games in the last year. They reported the age at which they first took part in seven simulated and twelve monetary gambling products, and current gambling problems and harm. First use of loot boxes and video games with gambling content tended to precede monetary gambling. Forms where gambling is a core gameplay element, such as social casino and demonstration games, tended to follow some monetary gambling forms. Engagement in most simulated gambling products was associated with greater harm from monetary gambling. The findings leave open the possibility of a catalyst pathway from youth engagement in loot boxes and games with gambling content to later monetary gambling, but causal psychosocial mechanisms remain unclear. However, a pathway from social casino and demonstration games to monetary gambling appears less likely, which may instead reflect containment or substitution effects. Simulated gambling disproportionately attracts youth who are vulnerable to gambling problems and harm, indicating the need for consumer protection measures.

Examining the role of psychological needs and passion in problem video gaming

Video game play is a pervasive behavior, and researchers suggest there may be both adaptive and maladaptive consequences of gaming. Using Self-Determination Theory and the Dualistic Model of Passion frameworks, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between passion, psychological needs, and problematic gaming. Across two studies and an integrative data analysis (IDA) that pooled the data of Studies 1 and 2, we hypothesized that (H1) greater psychological need frustration would be indirectly related to greater problematic gaming through greater obsessive passion and that (H2) greater psychological need satisfaction would be indirectly related to lower problematic video gaming via greater harmonious passion. We also tested alternative models in which passion (harmonious and obsessive) were related problematic gaming through to psychological needs (satisfaction and frustration). Across the two studies and IDA, we found that psychological need frustration was associated problematic gaming via obsessive passion, supporting our first hypothesis. Similarly, our alternative model also indicated that obsessive passion was related to problematic gaming via psychological need frustration in all three studies. In contrast, we did not find support for hypothesis two in either study and the IDA as psychological need satisfaction was not associated with lower problematic gaming via harmonious passion. In fact, we found that in Studies 1 and 2 as well as the IDA, psychological need frustration was related to problematic gaming through harmonious passion. Our results suggest that psychological need frustration and obsessive passion may be more important indicators of problem gaming compared to psychological need satisfaction and harmonious passion. Therefore, efforts to mitigate psychological need frustration in daily life and obsessive passion for gaming may be critical for reducing problem gaming.

Myopia: An alarming situation in near future

Madam, I am writing to draw attention to an issue that I believe is of great concern for our society: the alarming increase in cases of myopia due to excessive near work. Myopia, or nearsightedness, when the eye has difficulty focusing on distant objects. The prevalence of myopia has been increasing rapidly worldwide, particularly in Asia, where it is estimated that up to 80% of young adults are affected. In the United States, the prevalence of myopia has doubled in the past 30 years.[1] One major factor contributing to this increase is the growing amount of time people spend near work, such as reading, using computers, and playing video games. This kind of work requires the eyes to focus on close objects for extended periods, which can cause the eye to elongate and result in myopia. The consequences of myopia are not only visual but also have significant impacts on quality of life. Myopia increases the risk of eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment, which can lead to blindness. It can also have a negative impact on academic and career opportunities, as well as physical and social activities. [2] Get regular eye exams: Regular eye exams are crucial for detecting myopia early and monitoring its progression. It is recommended that infants have their first eye exam at six months, and then again at the ages of three and five, and every two years after that. Adults should have an eye exam at least once every two years, or more frequently if advised by their eye doctor. Practice good visual habits: Good visual habits can help prevent myopia from worsening. This includes taking frequent breaks when reading or using electronic devices, maintaining a comfortable distance from the screen, and practicing good posture. You can also try doing eye exercises to strengthen your eye muscles. Spend time outdoors: Studies have shown that spending time outdoors, especially in natural light, can help prevent the onset and progression of myopia in children. Aim for at least 2 hours of outdoor time per day. A study by David A Wilson et al. showed that by 2050 there will be 1 billion people with myopia.[3] Nowadays, our young generation is executively using smartphones and digital screens. All ophthalmologist and optometrist are advised to know all the clints regarding close work to rest in between your work. ---Continue

You Got It in Your Hands: Stop-Signal Modality Influences on Reactive Response Inhibition with Gaming Controls

Mastering the art of stopping initiated actions is vital when playing video games. However, what characteristics make up the perfect warning or stop-signal remains unclear. In the present study we compared performance in a basic and a gamified stop-signal task depending on different stop-signal modalities: auditory, haptic and audio-haptic. Data from a complete within-subjects design (N = 24), revealed an advantage of haptic or audio-haptic stop-signals as compared to purely auditory ones. Further, results show an overall slower performance in the game-version compared to the basic version. With regards to the subjective experience, the results revealed higher motivation to perform in the gamified task, but a somewhat deeper flow experience in the basic task. In sum, these results confirm that stop-signal modality influences reactive response inhibition in both basic and gamified tasks. Future research may extend and generalize these findings to other cross-modal and more complicated gaming setups. Game developers may draw on these findings to optimize the communication of stop signals via vibrations in a handheld controller.

The role of self-perception, media practices and synchronicity in the production of commented gameplay videos

We examine how German creators of gaming content perceive themselves and purposefully navigate between various platforms, pre-recorded, and live content. Based on a theoretical framework following Postigo [33] focusing on Web 2.0 characteristics as well as on current definitions of ‘let’s plays’ and streams, we conducted 14 interviews with both amateur and professional gaming content creators. A typology illustrates the perceived relationships between media practices of gaming content creators and the way they navigate between live and pre-recorded content. Based on an empirical foundation, we formulate an enhanced definition of let’s play and suggest a new understanding of the concept of the gaming content creator to allow for improved differentiation in future research.