Video games, in particular violent based games, can have
both positive and negative effects on our youth. Many studies and test have been done to see
whether video gaming is turning children’s brains into mush or developing them.
To find a clear conclusion three articles that look into the positive outcomes
of video gaming and three that show the negative effects, have been summarised to
see who gives the strongest case and depict whether children (ages 8-18) should
be exposed to video games.
To determine whether video games have a positive or negative effect on our youth. BY Morgan Dyer 1235043
Monday, 20 October 2014
Sunday, 19 October 2014
YES!! Video games are good. - Positive Articles
The following articles look into the positive aspects of video gaming and the benefits children can gain from them. All three articles have been summarised so their main points are highlighted.
Effects of video games: more good than bad for youth development.
Marilyn Price-Mitchell PHD
http://www.rootsofaction.com/video-games-for-kids-more-good-than-bad-for-development/

Positive effects of video games on children.
Lisa Webber, Demand Media
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/positive-effects-video-games-children-16317.html

video games can enhance social skills, teach patience and persistence. Learning tools like these will stay with someone for a long time, like riding a bike. A significant area the writer looks into are the strong benefits video games have for children living with Autism. Social responses can be improved through visual and verbal ques which is a motivating achievement as human interaction learning can sometimes cause stress, therefore video games are an exciting and fun alternative learning tool for Autistic children. The third point Webber makes is the great benefits that physical games have, such as Wii. Games like these will improve hand-eye coordination and motor skill while at the same time increasing fitness levels. Video games, in a way are ver important in a child's life as they can act as a release for aggression or frustration which ultimately diffuses stress, therefore having a relaxing effect on children.
Video games can teach positive lessons, too.
Art Markman, PHD. Ulterior Motives.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201002/video-games-can-teach-positive-lessons-too
Markman undergoes a study where participants played one of two games. The first game was an action game where players flew around in a helicopter rescuing people from buildings and catching criminals. The second game was neutral, where player had to manoeuvring different shaped blocks into a well and make them fit into each other. After the players had finished their games they answered a series of questions that tested what they were thinking whilst playing. The results showed that the people who played the action game had helpful thoughts while playing as they were rescuing people in danger, compared to the others players where their thoughts centred around other actions, like what they were going to have for lunch. Initially people who played the action game were far more engaged and interested that those who didn't play. The study concluded that the people who played the helicopter game were more engrossed and showed positive signs therefore, regarding a child's perspective, video games are more engaging and exciting so encouraging positive behaviour compared to neutral gaming where no real objective is accomplished.
Saturday, 18 October 2014
NO!! Video games are bad. - Negative Articles
The following articles look into the negative aspects of video gaming and the issues children can pick up from them. All three articles have been summarised so their main points are highlighted.
The Negative effects of video game addiction.
Drea Christopher

Negative potential of video games.
Russell A. Sabella, PHD
http://www.education.com/reference/article/negative-potential-video-games/

Sabella talks from opinion and links back to a few academic sources so he is mainly opinion based in his article therefore not being academic himself.
Negative effects of violent video games may build over time.
Rick Nauert, PHD
http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/12/11/negative-effects-of-violent-video-games-may-build-over-time/48918.html


Friday, 17 October 2014
Worthy Articles?
With all articles summarised and sorted into whether they are encouraging of video games or not for our youth. From here these articles will be analysed and their arguments assessed to see if they have a stronger opinion where a conclusion will be drawn to prove if video games have a positive or negative effect on our youth's behaviour and social well-being.
All three positive articles, Effects of video games: more good than bad for youth development, Positive effects of video games on children, and Video games can teach positive lessons too, gave a very strong argument convincing readers that video games have many benefits for children. Effects of video games: more good than bad for youth development written by Marilyn Price-Mitchell, stated many good points and backed up what they were saying well. The writer drew from personal experiences, talking about her grandchildren and their game play on their iPad apps. Price-Mitchell still voices her concern about some negative affects and aims her article at parent too watch for signs that games my be effecting their children, but still ensures that not all children are prone to concerning effects. Her article, mainly being opinion based, still is a strong basis for a positive stand for video games and argues her case well. Positive effects of video games on children, by Lisa Webber, is the strongest of the three positive articles as Webber aims her argument at how video games can be a good learning tool for critically-thinking which what schools are aiming for in their systems. Her strong arguments on the benefits for Autistic children helps the point of her article come across convincingly as she aims at a wider target of children. Webber's push behind physical gaming strengths her article as she looks into other forms of gaming, not just the common violent game the others are concerned about. The final article Video games can teach positive lessons too, by Arts Markman, is a write up on a study done that tests people thoughts whilst playing one of two games. The study proved if someone played an action games where the plot was based around helping people or rescue missions, they were fully engaged and focused on helping others therefore this could relate to real life situations. The study seemed well thought out and the objective accomplished therefore proving positive aspects of video gaming. Overall the main points of all three articles were very strong and most arguments were back up consistently.
Most of the negative articles, The negative effects of video game addiction, Negative potential of video games, and Negative effects of violent video games my build over time, were well portrayed and had good points, backing up their arguments. The first article, The negative effects of video game addiction written by, Drea Christopher, was minty focused on addictions occurring within children and video games. The health issues that Christopher talks about seem extreme but could be a potential risk is some series cases. Christopher's article is not targeted at, but would be good for parents to be weary of addictive symptoms that their child may portray. One downfall with this text is the use of 'he' when referring to children. These issues can occur with any gender not just young males. Negative potential of video games by Russell A. Sabella, is the weakest of the three articles as it is fully an opinion based text with very few reassures to back up his statements. Some strong valid points are made, such as the rewarding system for doing bad, there for could be related back to real life. Also his categories seem valid but are not backed by anything. The last article Negative effects of violent video games my build over time by Rick Nauert, is a study of 70 university students. This study is well back up but has only been in play for a short time, therefore not being completely correct. This is admitted near the end of the article therefor not convincingly portraying a strong argument.
Comparing the tree positive and three negative articles, both have strong arguments but looking into the over all question, Video gaming: positive or negative effects on our youth's behaviour and social well-being? Looking at the articles in two collective wholes, positive and negative. The distinctive groups both answers the question effectively. The positive have stronger backing resources compared to the negative articles as the negative articles are more opinion based. The benefits from the positive articles seem more permanent and long-term such as the critical-thinking, patients, persistence motor skills and hand-eye coordination are factors that can be used in any aspect of life, now and in the future. Where as the serious effects of the negative factors can wear off, this is even admitted by some of the writers from the negative articles. Persuasion factors of each grouping, the negatives do make good points but would not convince a parent to completely ban their child's system as negative factors can be monitored. Compared to the positive articles, with the right games, children can gain some very beneficial long-term attributes.

Most of the negative articles, The negative effects of video game addiction, Negative potential of video games, and Negative effects of violent video games my build over time, were well portrayed and had good points, backing up their arguments. The first article, The negative effects of video game addiction written by, Drea Christopher, was minty focused on addictions occurring within children and video games. The health issues that Christopher talks about seem extreme but could be a potential risk is some series cases. Christopher's article is not targeted at, but would be good for parents to be weary of addictive symptoms that their child may portray. One downfall with this text is the use of 'he' when referring to children. These issues can occur with any gender not just young males. Negative potential of video games by Russell A. Sabella, is the weakest of the three articles as it is fully an opinion based text with very few reassures to back up his statements. Some strong valid points are made, such as the rewarding system for doing bad, there for could be related back to real life. Also his categories seem valid but are not backed by anything. The last article Negative effects of violent video games my build over time by Rick Nauert, is a study of 70 university students. This study is well back up but has only been in play for a short time, therefore not being completely correct. This is admitted near the end of the article therefor not convincingly portraying a strong argument.
Comparing the tree positive and three negative articles, both have strong arguments but looking into the over all question, Video gaming: positive or negative effects on our youth's behaviour and social well-being? Looking at the articles in two collective wholes, positive and negative. The distinctive groups both answers the question effectively. The positive have stronger backing resources compared to the negative articles as the negative articles are more opinion based. The benefits from the positive articles seem more permanent and long-term such as the critical-thinking, patients, persistence motor skills and hand-eye coordination are factors that can be used in any aspect of life, now and in the future. Where as the serious effects of the negative factors can wear off, this is even admitted by some of the writers from the negative articles. Persuasion factors of each grouping, the negatives do make good points but would not convince a parent to completely ban their child's system as negative factors can be monitored. Compared to the positive articles, with the right games, children can gain some very beneficial long-term attributes.
Thursday, 16 October 2014
And the results are in.....
The strongest argument that determined whether video games cause positive or negative effects on our youth's behaviour and social well-being is the POSITIVE articles/ ideas.


Wednesday, 15 October 2014
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