Media Influences: Computer Games Evaluation Flashcards

1
Q

LIMITATION: Measures of aggression are artificial

A
  • Taylor Competitive Time Task measures aggression as the volume of noise selected by participants as punishment - an unrealistic measure
  • Aggression measures in lab situations are also unrealistic as they do not involve retaliation- pps can be safely aggressive
  • casts doubt on the validity of experimental studies and in the link between media violence and aggression.
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2
Q

LIMITATION: correlations cannot draw cause and effect conclusions

A
  • No variables are manipulated or controlled and there is random allocation of participants to violent or non violent media conditions
  • A positive correlation between violent computer games and aggression can be explained by socialisation (violent games cause ppl to be aggressive) or selection (ppl who are already aggressive choose violent games)
  • Direction of causality cannot be settled by correlational studies, leaving us the question of exactly how computer games influence aggression.
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3
Q

LIMITATION: Longitudinal studies have cofounding variables

A
  • Longitudinal studies are conducted over lengthy periods of time
  • Many sources of aggression interact with media influences over this period. It is difficult to separate them and assess contributions to aggressive behaviour.
  • Therefore it is impossible to conclude that it is violent media such as computer games that have affected aggression
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