VIDEO GAME VIOLENCE AND BEHAVIORAL AGGRESSION: A META-ANALYTICAL EXAMINATION OF POTENTIAL MODERATORS
File(s)
Date
2010-06Author
Arbogast, Aaron R.
Advisor(s)
Lishner, David
Worth, Keilah
Adams, Gary
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The current study used fixed-effects and random-effects meta-analyses to test four
additional potential moderators of the relation between exposure to media violence and
aggression. First, fourteen relevant studies meeting Anderson et al.?s (2010) best
practices criteria were coded for characteristics related to the violent and non-violent
(control) video games and for study authorship. Next, the program Comprehensive Metaanalysis
was used to conduct a fixed-effects meta-analysis in order to examine the
variability between the studies within the sample. Then, potential moderating effects
were tested via random-effects analyses.
Consistent with previous research, an average effect of r+ = .26 was found for the
relation between violent video game play and aggression. The realism of the violent and
non-violent video games, competitiveness of the non-violent video game, and authorship
were tested for moderating effects. Although, violent video game realism was not found
to be a significant moderator Q(1) = 1.45, p > .05, the unrealistic subgroup of studies
produced a significant average effect, r+ = .33, p < .05, whereas the realistic subgroup
did not, r+ = .18, p > .05. Non-Violent video game realism, non-violent video game
competitiveness, and Craig Anderson as author did not moderate the relation, Q = .08, p
= .776; Q = .01, p = .91; and Q = .30, p = .58, respectively. Future research should
evaluate whether violent video game realism moderates the relation between playing
violent video games and aggression using a more definitive methodology.
Subject
Violence in children
Children and violence
Aggressiveness in adolescence
Video games
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/47266Description
A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science-Psychology Industrial/Organizational