Computer gamers and university

Interesting article in the guardian yesterday (via @mikedicks) discussing research that computer gamers are less likely to go to university.

This research tracked 17,000 born in 1970 and looked at their likelihood of going on to get a degree, finding that while reading significantly increased chances, playing computer games – as a sole recreational activity – decreased them. The article does discuss some of the limitations of the research, that the nature of computer games (and – I might add – universities) has changed fundamentally since the 1980s, and that it doesn’t prove any causal link between reading/gaming and likelihood to go to university (albeit as an aside in the very last sentence of the article).

However, I think a key point is glossed over. The study looked at people who were “playing computer games regularly and doing no other activities”. Surely this is an issue of single-focus rather than one of computer games per sae? I would argue that doing any activity to the exclusion of others is likely to have detrimental affects. Somehow it’s computer games get singled out as the problem.

2 Comments

  1. Mathias Poulsen

    Hi Nicola,

    Just read the article, and share your skepticism.

    Looking at the current state of higher ed, though, the conclusions doesn’t really surprise me – despite the potential flaws of the study.

    Study says nothing about the intelligence or competence of “players” as compared to “readers”; if anything, I see it illustrating the inherent narrow academic prioritization of writing over any other mode of communication.

    Should I extrapolate and draw some relatively loose conclusions (and perhaps even be a bit rude towards higher education), I would say that the study shows a somewhat conservative approach to teaching and learning in universities – perhaps in combination with a widespread perception of this situation in the general public.

    If universities are – or are believed to be – only relevant for those primarily considering themselves “readers”, where does that leave those who do not?

    Are universities too narrowly focused on the written word & “traditional” ways of teaching and learning, excluding those who prefer other approaches?

  2. nicola (Post author)

    Hi Mathias

    I agree with your point. It would have been interesting if the study had looked at other areas of achievement (other than ‘attending HE’ and ‘money’) and would have perhaps provided a more balanced viewpoint.

    Nicola

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