Annotated Bibliography

Silvern, S., & Williamson, P. (2012, August 12). The effects of video game play on young children's
aggression, fantasy, and prosocial behavior. Retrieved October 13, 2014, from:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0193397387900335
The authors in this article researched whether or not video games cause aggression in young children. The
children observed were from the ages 4 to 6. The experiment had the children play space invaders and
watch a violent cartoon. There reasoning behind this was to see if they had shown any change in mood,
whether it was aggression or another emotion, they would be able compare it to another activity that
children from these age groups also participate in quite often. The observation have found that the
children had shown more aggressive from their initial stable mood while and after playing the selected
video game chosen by Silvern and Williamson. Although the childrens mood had changed from a calmer
setting to a slightly more aggravated one the change was similar, if not he complete same, from having
the children watch a violent cartoon. This shows that children view violent cartoons in a similar way they
see video games.
Anderson, C. (2004, September 9). An update on the effects of playing violent video games. Retrieved
September 14, 2014, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140197103000976
Anderson has written about the many analyses done on violent video game research finding evidence on
both highly negative effects and hardly any effect at all. He has found analyses that shows violent video
games cause aggression but more towards the video game itself and is nothing but a casual attitude a for a
person playing a violent video game. Other analyses he had found shows that people act out in a negative
way towards other people after playing video games. Through his research he found that video games are
a form of media similar to television and cinematic movies whom both have been accused of the same
effects as video games. What he was able to gather was that it depends more on the persons mental state
and attitude whether or not they act out in aggression or even in violent behavior after playing video
games or watching a violent movie or show on television.
Nuwer, R. (2014, April 8). Playing Video Games Could Actually Change Your Brain-But Not in a Bad
Way. Retrieved October 14, 2014, from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/smart-news/playing-
video-games-could-actually-change-your-brain-not-bad-way-180950453/
Nuwer focuses not on the physical but more on the cognitive effects of video games. She found that
research had been done one 150 males and 150 females age 14 to find whether or not it is possible to get a
positive cognitive effect from playing video games for 12 hours a weeks. The results varied among the
individuals, some didnt take an interest in playing while others took a quick likening to playing video
games. The researchers found that those who did take interest had a slightly faster decision making rate
and had higher motor skills such as hand-eye coordination. She goes on to say that playing video games
regardless of its content is healthy for the brain and people can find benefits in playing video games in
moderation. However Nuwer found that although some may find benefits from video games it doesnt
prove that they are harmless but are not a real threat to ones mind.
Noonan, M. (2014, March 11). Effects of Video Games on the Brain. Retrieved October 15, 2014, from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/164203-effects-of-video-games-on-the-brain/
In this article, by Michele Noonan, Noonan has found that video games of all sorts cause different effects
on an individuals brain and social behavior not only violent video games. Video games come in various
genres and each genre has its own content that is unique and specific to the game. Noonan states in her
article that both benefits and drawbacks have been found, depending on the content of the video games played.
She had found that violent video games cause some aggression whereas some action games support and enhance
motor skills as well as aid stroke victims through therapy gaining back the motor skills lost in their unfortunate
incident. Noonan also said actions games can improve contrast sensitivity. This article acknowledges that video
games can be damaging to ones mind or help a person to acquire and hone skills. This article implies that video
games have the possibility to do well for others as well as harm them.
Nauert, R. (2012, December 11). Negative Effects of Violent Video Games May Build Over Time.
Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/12/11/negative-effects-of-violent-
video-games-may-build-over-time/48918.html
In his article Rick Nauert quotes a psychologist named Dr. Brad bushman how says, Playing video
games could be compared to smoking cigarettes. A single cigarette wont cause lung cancer, but smoking
over weeks or months or years greatly increases the risk. In the same way, repeated exposure to violent
video games may have a cumulative effect on aggression. his article explains an experiment done on 70
university students trying to find out if playing violent video games causes aggressive behavior over time.
The researchers had half the group play violent video games while another half play nonviolent video
games for 20 minutes over a 3 day period. After playing for 20 minutes the university students were given
questions to answer and depending on that answer concluded the results for the experiment. They found
no change in behavior or mood in the students playing nonviolent video however they had found a slight
change in the student who played nonviolent video games. Nauert found that violent video games wont
cause aggression as soon as they are played but over time.
Jenkins, B. (2012, February 9). The Truth About Video Games and the Brain: What Research Tells Us.
Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://www.scilearn.com/blog/video-games-brain
The controversy over video games is fairly recent and there are still many researchers trying to find
answers as to what video games really do to people. This article covers common questions over the
controversy of video games, such as negative and positive effects, addictiveness and the possible use of
video games in education. In this article Bill Jenkins has found that although there may or may not be
some benefits to be gained from video games the negative effects are there and very much a possibility.
The effect of violent video games is constantly stated throughout many articles, which are primarily
aggression, but goes on to say as for the benefits it is not certain but the befits for nonviolent video games
are commonly associated with improved motor skills and better visual attention but are not yet 100
percent proven yet. Jenkins article acknowledges the controversial effects of video games but
understands there is still more to learn from this fairly knew form of media.
Park, A., & Park, A. (2011, December 2). How Playing Violent Video Games May Change the Brain |
TIME.com. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/02/how-playing-
violent-video-games-may-change-the-brain/
This article was about research done at Indiana University to find the effects of violent video games. The
research done was similar to every other experiment done to test the effects of video games. A selected
number of 28 students with little gaming experience were chosen to take part. The 28 students were
separated into two groups, one playing violent video game and the other non-violent video games. Aside
from the usual aggression video games tend to cause through many finds in research they have found that
the students who had played the chosen violent video games showed less activity in areas that involved
emotions, attention and inhibition of our impulses. And goes on to say that this effect isnt permanent
but not sure how long this may last. Though the research done at Indiana University they had found not
significant benefits from video games. There is still research to be done on the lasting effects of video
games.