Introduction
Since the development of the first video games, children flocked to this form of play (Green & Bavelier, 2004, p.2). Educators also use video games to increase the skills and learning opportunities for students in mainstream and special education classrooms. Video games involve sight, touch, hearing, and speaking skills (Press Trust of India, 2013). Children playing video games have learned a number of skills such as mathematics, readings, social skills, perception, decision-making, and other more advanced skills in certain genres of video games. A significant number of credible sources have studied the issue of positive benefits and risks of video games (Green & Bavelier, 2004; Boot, Blakely, & Simons, 2011; APA, 2008). The results primarily support that within reason, video games reap more benefits than it does offer risks. One could assert regular video game use develops cognition faster in children because it stimulates key abilities such as critical thinking and problem solving. The purpose of this study is to determine if this is, in fact, true.
Methodology
This study used the qualitative research approach to study if regular video game use develops cognition faster in children because it stimulates key abilities such as critical thinking and problem solving. The study used literature review of previously conducted studies on cognitive development and the use of video games in young children.
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"Designing a Psychology Experiment".
Data Collection Method
This research study is a literature review to either prove or disprove the thesis with previously conducted research. The study used four sources focusing on the key words: cognitive, video games, perception, cognition, cognitive skills, children, and learning. The key words provided a focus for the literature review to ensure that the articles or studies related to the thesis. The resources selected for this study only had to contain the key words, and at the start of the data collection, the point of view of the study did not matter. In other words, the study was for cognitive development with video games or even against it; the research became a part of the data collection process. After identifying the resources for this study, cultivating the data for those in support for or against the thesis began. By developing a simple chart listing those sources for, against, or both enable the researcher to determine the amount of information exists and in what category.
The choice for the literature review is due to the inability to organize a three-part study of children before they began playing video games while playing and after years of playing video games. In several of the studies sought for this research project, the researchers investigated the children’s cognitive development and level of skills at various ages and with various amounts of exposure to video games. However, none of the previous studies investigated a significant degree of cognitive development in two key areas such as critical thinking and problem solving at a faster rate. A three-part study would provide reliable evidence, but not possible to conduct in a short span of time. However, several studies completed by other researchers has established that cognitive skills are improved upon, the effects lasting long into the children’s teen and adult years, and the earlier the children develop cognitive skills at the appropriate or earlier than expected times, the better their abilities are in adulthood (Green & Bavelier, 2004, 1). Other data suggests that the earlier a child exposed to stimuli intended to increase cognitive develop do learn the skills faster and at a better level (Press Trust of India, 2013).
Data Analysis Collection- The references for the study had to present information on either side of the thesis, yes, video games improve the cognitive skills, no, and video games do not improve the cognitive skills, or split as video games do improve cognitive skills but countered by the negative aspects.
A number of studies have previously looked at the negative effects of video games in an attempt to discourage video game usage, or to justify the use of video games in educational settings despite the downsides to the tools (APA, 2008). The question to ask was if video games had more value in cognitive development to counter the temperament and social behaviors. Subsequent studies demonstrated that developmentally disabled children with Down syndrome, autism, and other similar conditions increased their social skills and temperament along with varying degrees of cognitive skill development. Taking information such as previously stated proved that cognitive skills can increase with certain stimuli. However, the next step was to determine the degree the increases occurred. What the data determined is that there are increases in cognitive skills in all areas with a concentration in those that the game focuses on in the action.
The next portion of analysis looked at the increases of cognitive abilities compared to the genre of video game. It is necessary to know if a certain genre has more impact on the speed of cognitive development than another. It provides an understanding of the cognitive abilities and the relationship between all genres of video games, specifically the action and educational video games that the younger children use. The final portion of the analysis looked for issues hindering the development of cognitive skills and finding nothing of significance. All studies showed varying degrees of growth of cognitive skills and these differences demonstrate how children develop within certain ranges according to ages and any disabilities.
- APA. (2008). Playing video games offers learning across life span, say studies. APA. Retrieved 37 March 2013 from: http://www.apa.org/
- Boot, W. R., Blakely, D. P., & Simons, D. J. (2011). Do action video games improve perception and cognition? Frontiers in Psychology, 2: 226.
- Green, C. S. & Bavelier, D. (2004). The cognitive neuroscience of video games. Messaris & Humpreys (Eds), Digital media: transformations in human communication. Retrieved 27 March 2013 from: http://isites.harvard.edu/
- Press Trust of India. (2013). Playing video games daily can enhance cognitive skills in children: Study. Retrieved 27 March 2013 from: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/
