Gamers less likely to study at uni. *article*

[Infernai]

Yeah, well I'm a hardcore gamer and i not only passed highschool with a good end-mark and studying in university, but am doing the EXACT course that i wanted to do...so yeah, this survey can go suck it!

 

[Danny Ocean]

Are they mixing up correlation and causation?

I think it makes sense that a lazy slob will

A. Play more video games
B. Not go to university

but those are both easily attributed to some deeper character trait.

This seems the most likely.

 

[Alex Cowan]

Slightly upset that this is Oxford spewing this trash, then again who applies to 'Nuffield College' anyway?

Oh btw Oxford, we will see if gamers fail when I have my interview for undergraduate admission in December -,-

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

Oxford University? Who goes there anymore? XD

 

[Knusper]

I spend quite a lot of time on my computer, and I consider myself reasonably bright. Hopefully I am an exception to the rule.

 

[hotacidbath]

I'm a hardcore gamer and currently in Phi Theta Kappa with a 4.0 (or 5, depends on the college) GPA, their argument is invalid.

One person's anecdotal evidence does not equal study changing data. I have a friend who smoked more weed than Cheech and Chong combined and spent every weekend drinking instead of studying, but was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Biology degree. All that means is that she could do it. It doesn't mean that everyone else that tries will have the same results. Learn to scientific method. Please read the article before jumping to conclusions. The study appears to be more about reading and extra-curricular activities improving ones chances for college and a job rather than video games hindering them. The article author just made an inflammatory title and opening paragraph to get attention from readers and the OP of this thread did the same damn thing.

I'm not sure tracking people from 1970 is the best example for a gaming study. Given that we didn't really see any games until 1986, that would put these people at 16 before being exposed. Right around the time when they were in high school and should be deciding on which college to attend.

Maybe track people who have been exposed to gaming from a very young age. Like me, who started gaming at six and has therefore had his fair share of it already. I also read regularly. So which am I? Less or more likely to attend college? Well, I'm in college now, so I guess there's your answer.

The author of the study said "The main thing I would highlight, because this is the 1970 cohort, when they played video games in 1986, that's not very many people. And the state of video games in 1986 is nothing like it is now." This is the big problem with attempting long-term studies about games (and most technology in general). Things are moving so fast that, by the time you get to the end, it becomes somewhat irrelevant.

There are a lot of people jumping on this study with anecdotal evidence bragging about university, which makes me a little sad that they don't seem to understand how research works. The article even says "The research suggests teenagers who spend a lot of time playing video games should not worry too much about their career prospects. Playing computer games frequently did not reduce the likelihood that a 16-year-old would be in a professional or managerial job at 33, the research finds." This study followed 17,000 people for almost 25 years, that has a bit more impact than a hand full of personal stories on a mostly anonymous gaming site.

Also, correlation does not equal causation. If they looked at people that spent an extensive amount of time knitting instead of studying, they would probably have similar results. It seems to have more to do with some of these people having a lack of motivation towards school as well as looking for distractions, rather than gaming being the road block that kept them out of college.

P.S. I mad.

 

[Smooth Operator]

92% of all statistics are false.

The statistics are usually fairly accurate the iffy part are conclusions, because people will read into the data what they want to see.

Some gems of the gaming world:
- violent people play video games -> video games cause violence
- criminals play video games -> video games make you a criminal
- rape crimes have upticked and so did video game sales -> video games make you a rapist
The data is no issue here, only how you want to see it.

OT: The correlation may or may not be accurate, but you don't need statistics to figure out Super Mario wont get you through exams, if you neglect study for entertainment... well let's just take a wild guess what will happen.

 

[Gitty101]

Meh - maybe initially. But to be honest I think it's more likely that 'Hardocre Gamers' would tend to socialise less rather then study less.

EDIT: Oh, and I'm AT Uni at the moment ^^

 

[randomsix]

The subjects were born in 1970. Is this data relevant or even reflective of the situation today?

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

So....Video games are...DISTRACTING?

STOP THE PRESSEEEEES!!!!!!!!!


...No really. Tell us something we don't know.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I read books and play video games, what happens to me?
Clearly I should take this study at face value, and assume that because I play video games, I will never get into a universit-OH WAIT. I'M ALREADY ENROLLED AND TAKING CLASSES.

 

[wildpeaks]

My former uni teacher just started a school to teach games making, so this study is quite ironic in my case.

 

[Art Axiv]

I'm afraid its one of those research papers written to prove something they wanted to prove instead of unveiling something new and then analyzing it and addressing the findings.

 

[wildpeaks]

92% of all statistics are false.

93% even.

 

[AndrewC]

Darn, guess I'll leave uni then!

There was me hoping I'd get to finish my course aswell, but since I'm a gamer I must abide by this 'study' and leave; and not further my education.

Excuse me whilst I go sit in the corner and eat pizza and play some TF2.

 

[FalloutJack]

Hiyo! Graduate of University of Pittsburgh here! Basically...I call bullshit.

 

[Chappy]

I guess it depends on how they carried out their survey the way I would assume they did it was question people as to how many play video games and how many read now already there are going to be a vast majority of people reading outweighing the population of gamers in this study so the results would already be unfavourable towards us gamers.

Then we have to consider have the factored in personal choice? Maybe people didn't want to go to University and believe it or not some people are embarrassed to admit they are gamers and may lie to the survey I wouldn't take this for fact.

Oh and for the record and survey, Big gamer - Foundation Degree Forensic Science and Archaeology 2nd year applying for 3rd year if the University stops being jerks.

 

[Superior Mind]

I'm a gamer and I'm currently studying for my second degree. Fuck you questionable statistics.

This survey looks pretty pathetic. Why did it start in 1970? Games and what can loosely be called gamers have changed in pretty much every way since then, I don't see how you can draw conclusions from any data gathered.

Regardless, a University education doesn't mean the same thing it did even two or three generations prior. It no longer determines class placings, it doesn't equate to higher earning potential. "Gamers generally don't go to University" shouldn't really be raising any alarm bells.

 

[Warforger]

I am a gamer that is going to a University. A good one too. With a high GPA. So suck it article?

Statistics =/= Personal experience. It's talking about likeliness not inability.

 

[mechanixis]

How do they know it isn't "People who don't go to uni are more likely to play games"?

Co-relation and causation, guys.