Discuss what research studies have told us about the positive effects of computers and / or video games on behaviour. (4+6)

Question 1

2 positive effects of computers and video games

Answer 1

Relaxing and pro-social games may cause pro-social behaviour,
Active games like Wii sports may encourage physical activity

Question 2

Whitaker and Bushman

Answer 2

116 college students played either a violent, neutral or relaxing video game for 20 minutes. They then completed a mood questionnaire - the experimenter then announced the study was over, but she needed help sharpening some pencils. the number of pencils that ppts chose to sharpen was used to measure pro-social behaviour - results showed that participants who played the relaxing video game chose to sharpen more pencils than those in other conditions

Question 3

Gentile

Answer 3

nearly 2000 Japanese children, aged between 10 and 17 completed two questionnaires; each was done twice with a 3-4 month time span between the two assessments - they rated how often in the previous month they had played video games with two types of pro-social scenes (characters helping troubled persons and showing affection between parents and children) - found that amount of pro-social gaming at time 1 had a causal effect on amount of PSB at time 2

Question 4

Mellecker

Answer 4

compared heart rate and calorie expenditure in children while playing various types of games and during rest - compared with resting condition, 39% more calories were burned during the seated bowling game, 98% during the active bowling game and 451% more during the active running game - Practical applications in helping to prevent obesity