College of Engineering and Architecture

Iloilo Science and Technology University

La Paz St. Iloilo City
RESEARCH PAPER

Subject: Purposive Communication

Submitted to: Prof. Ma. Belen R. Balandra
Submitted by: Joshua Acusta, Kyla Gonzaga, Winford Esponilla – BSECE2A

Research Question:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of gaming in college students?

Review of Literature:

College is a very important journey in our lives today. It determines our area of expertise
that is crucial in living independently as a member of the society. That is why college life is
treated as serious, challenging, and most especially stressful, but it does not mean college
students do not have time to relax, enjoy college life, or play mobile games! Mobile gaming in
college life is very common nowadays, but it is viewed negatively by the majority especially our
parents when, in fact, it also has its benefits on the gamers. There are many theories that explain
how gaming positively or negatively affect college gamers.

According to Wright (2011) in her research, college students who indicated that they play
video games had significantly lower GPAs than college students who indicated that they did not
play video games. She also added there were no significant correlations concerning the effects of
the amount of time spent playing games on GPA, the amount of puzzle or strategy situations
faced in the average game on GPA, or gaming mode on GPA. Overall, the only statistically
significant correlation was that of player status and GPA.

In contrast with the findings of Wright (2011), Terry and Malik (2018) found in their
research that there is no predictive value for the relationship between final marks and time spent
playing video games. They added that this finding reflects the apparent contradictions in the
literature, wherein some researchers correlate video gaming with lower school marks and others
correlate it with higher school marks.
 College of Engineering and Architecture
Iloilo Science and Technology University
La Paz St. Iloilo City
There are also aspects that are affected by gaming other than academic performance.
Craton (2011) stated in his paper that “the effect of video games on the college campus is both
positive and negative.” One such negative effect is the decrease of GPA according to the studies
previously mentioned above. Another negative effect is that “video games can certainly lead to
negative effects such as social isolation and increased aggression, but they are going to remain a
part of college culture for the foreseeable future” (Craton, 2011).

Research on the social effects of video games is also mixed (Allison, Wahlde, Shockley,
& Gabbard, 2006). Some studies have found that video games are similar to addictions such as
gambling which create negative social effects. Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing
Games (MMORPGs) have been called “heroinware” because they are “simultaneously
competitive and highly social” (Allison, Wahlde, Shockley, & Gabbard, 2006).

Gaming can also have positive social effects. Craton (2011) stated in his paper that “one
measure of this which has significant research is that of pro-social behavior. Pro-social behavior
is defined as when one person acts to help another. Because there are numerous genres of games,
this kind of social effect is, of course, caused by games which focus on pro-social behavior.

In addition, “playing games socially as part of balanced lifestyle seems to have some
positive effect” (Craton, 2006). As long as gaming is not excessive, it is a very good source of
entertainment and relaxation, especially for college students.

Analysis:

In general, the literature provided three major aspects which are affected by gaming,
namely educational, sociological, and psychological, both positively and negatively. For the
educational effects of gaming, it is focused on the negative or disadvantageous part with gaming
as a distraction the college students. For example, they may choose to spend more time in
gaming than in studying, which will result to a lower GPA.

For the sociological effects of gaming, it can be either advantageous or disadvantageous

depending on the genre of the game being played. For example, MMORPGs usually become
 College of Engineering and Architecture
Iloilo Science and Technology University
La Paz St. Iloilo City
addictions which create negative social effects while pro-social games tend to have pro-social
effects to the gamers, which is considered as a positive social effect.

For the psychological effect of gaming, it is focused on the positive or advantageous part
with gaming as a good source of entertainment as well as a way for relieving stress, especially
for college students.

Methodology:

In order to identify the advantages or disadvantages of gaming to college students, the

researchers will test 43 college students (19 males and 24 females) about the educational,
sociological and psychological effect of gaming in their college life.

Example Survey:

1. What is your gender? [] Male [] Female

2. Do you play games? (ML, COD, LOL, COC, Mini Militia, etc.)

[] Yes [] No

3. If yes, please answer the following questions

a. Gaming as an advantage
 Does gaming positively affect your studies? [] Yes [] No
 Does gaming positively affect your relationships with others? [] Yes [] No
 Does gaming positively affect your behavior? [] Yes [] No
b. Gaming as a disadvantage
 Does gaming negatively affect your studies? [] Yes [] No
 Does gaming negatively affect your relationships with others? [] Yes [] No
 Does gaming negatively affect your behavior? [] Yes [] No
 College of Engineering and Architecture
Iloilo Science and Technology University
La Paz St. Iloilo City
Survey Results:
a. Gender
Male Female Total % Total
Gamer
Non-gamer
Total = 43 100%

The results show that gaming is more common in males than in females, and that
majority of the participants (college students) play games.

b. Advantages of gaming
Male Female Total
Educational
Psychological
Sociological

The results show that

c. Disadvantages of gaming
Male Female Total
Educational
Psychological
Sociological

The results show that

 College of Engineering and Architecture
Iloilo Science and Technology University
La Paz St. Iloilo City
Conclusion:
 College of Engineering and Architecture
Iloilo Science and Technology University
La Paz St. Iloilo City
References:

Allison, S., Wahlde, L., Shockley, T., & Gabbard, G. (2006). The Development of the Self in the
Era of the Internet and Role-Playing Fantasy Games. Retrieved from December 8, 2019,
from https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.3.381

Craton, J. (2011). The Effect of Videogames on Student Achievement. Retrieved December 8,

2019, from http://www.acsd.org/article/the-effect-of-videogames-on-student-
achievement/

Terry, M. & Malik, A. (2018). Video Gaming as a Factor that Affects Academic Performance in
Grade Nine. Retrieved December 8, 2019, from
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED583492.pdf

Wright, J. (2011). The effects of video game play on academic performance. Retrieved
December 8, 2019, from
https://scholar.utc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=mps