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ESA Challenges Game Addiction Study
Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), has challenged an Iowa State University study which found that 8.5 percent of American gamers aged 8-18 showed multiple signs of addiction.
“It has come to my attention... that the findings and conclusions of the study prepared by Dr. Douglas Gentile, and published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, were based on flawed methodology,” Gallagher said in a letter to the publication, which was forwarded to media outlets. “This raises serious doubts about the validity of findings."
Gallagher goes on to point out that Gentile conceded in an interview that he was unaware that the sample group for the study was not randomly chosen, but instead comprised of a 'convenience' sample of individuals who agreed to participate in the survey.
“As you are likely aware, such a sample is not truly representative of a national population group. Thus the results cannot be projected onto the broader population of children in this country. And the sampling error of plus or minus 3% that Dr. Gentile cited in the study is also meaningless.
“In his article, Dr. Gentile wrote that his findings are “nationally representative within 3%.” This claim is not verifiable given the nature of the sample population… Because of the composition of the group studied, neither the overall figure, nor the cited sampling error is supported by the data Dr. Gentile presented.
“It would be unfair and misleading for a respected publication to leave on the record such knowingly mistaken information,” Gallagher concluded.
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
I suppose the good news is that an inaccurate survey, presumably designed so it can be used to attack gaming, has been discredited. If we all just focus on it being discredited, though, I think we're missing the bigger point.
Because there probably is a valid debate to be had about whether or not gaming has an addictive strand; just because this survey is rubbish doesn't mean we should think it's ok to (a) ignore the question, or (b) pretend this answers it. All this discredited survey proves is exactly that: this particular survey is no good. It doesn't mean gaming is or isn't addictive as a result.
Anyway, enough of this. I need to get back to Disgaea 3. I'm not sure 20 hours a day is enough time...
Most anything can be addictive especially for people that naturally get addicted quite easily. It's no surprise games, like anything fun, can become addictive because people like having fun.
Personally, I'm not worried.
Has anyone ever actually participated in this kind of researches? I have..
And I can tell you that according to these kind of tests, I have every possible mental disorder known to man (including schizophrania, multipersonality disorder, passive-aggressive behavior, ADD, among other things), and I am apparently addicted to every substance known to man as well. Yes, I have tried them. The symptoms are so varied and general that everyone are bound to have some no matter what you do. It's not exactly credible when taken so out of context like this.
With that said, I feel that yes, gaming can be a real addiction on some people in a sense that they can be so invested in it that they will forsake real responsibilities. But unlike real addictions, I do not believe that gaming addiction is caused by stimulus-induced chemical imbalance, which to me is the real line in being "addicted" to something.
Being serious here: How many of you really DO consider video games to be addictive? I know I do. When I was a teenager I spend a lot of time playing games, to the point were it may have had a negative influence on my school grades.
And even now I find myself constantly drawn to certain games and spending hours of time on them when I can.
I'm not saying it's out of control or bad for peoples health or anything, but video games are definately more addictive than, say, television is (and many people are addicted to watching tv as well).
But I guess it also comes down to how the 'signs of addiction' are specified exactly.
I'd say it's no more or less addictive than football, which had an equal impact for me at school.
Another example of "blah-blah" defense.
Click on the Conceded in an interview link to see why it's not.
“This raises serious doubts about the validity of findings."
Indeed, only 8.5%--now that's just hard to believe.
Agreed lol, how could only 8.5% be addicted? It's so damn good.