Professor clarifies on “video gamers are drunks and druggies” study

A study on gamers was recently done in Utah. The study showed that video gamers tend to show a lot of other negative values, like drinking and smoking weed.

The professor who headed the study was given a chance to clarify some points about the study, particularly how the study doesn’t know if the cause of these negative values are actually video games. Details after the link.

A study on gamers was recently done in Utah. The study showed that video gamers tend to show a lot of other negative values, like drinking and smoking weed.

The professor who headed the study was given a chance to clarify some points about the study, after Derek Lavigne, who runs NuclearGeek.com, had some correspondence with her over the subject.

Professor Laura Walker shed light on some critical points in the study, particularly how the study doesn’t know if the cause of these negative values are actually video games:

Just quickly, of course one study does not claim to be representative of all gamers, and we were in no way making that claim. We are not even claiming generalizability to the 18-25 age group, this is just what we found in our sample. Media has a way of really spinning these stories that are not always accurate.

BUT:

However, in our study, we did find that video game use was related to only negative behaviors for students this age. Does that mean this applies to all gamers? No. Does that mean video game use causes these outcomes? Certainly not. It is possible that video game use could be positive in a number of ways, but given the variables we measured in our study, it was related to only negative outcomes.

And furthermore:

Again, if you read the study, we make the point numerous times that we don’t know if video games cause these problems or if people with these problems choose to immerse themselves into video games.

[…] Please recognize that the variables we chose allowed for possible positive outcomes. In other words, when we organized the study we WANTED to allow for the possibility of positive outcomes

[…] We honestly didn’t have a bias and were actually hoping for some positive correlates (some of the authors on the piece enjoy playing video games, as is mentioned in the press release).

[…] Also, please remember the nature of the statistics shows that as one variable goes up the other went down. For example, the more one played video games the lower their quality of relationships.

[…] Also please remember, these are averages. Just because you happen to be an “exception” doesn’t mean that the results cannot be “true” for a good number of young people. Right?

So… let me get this straight. What she’s saying is the study proves that University students between 18 to 25 who have “negative” values also seem to like playing video games. Meaning… if you’re about that age, playing video games is a marker that you might be a nogoodnik?

What was this study trying to prove anyway? If it was trying to scientifically measure the positive and negative values of video gamers versus non-video gamers, I find the methodology and sample group questionable.

Via Nuclear Geek