Counterintuitivity

For my research paper I will be examining whether violence in video games has a greater effect on behavior then similar violence in movies or television. The first point to consider is what effect violence in video games have on people. This would normally be a topic answered by the studies, but studies themselves are split between those that claim that video game violence does have an affect and those that claim it does not, or some other factor is causing these changes. Then I will use similar studies to see if violence in movies has a similar effect. An important factor in both of these instances is the accuracy and reliability in testing changes in behavior, as well as the amount of time they tested over.

Coming from the biased standpoint of enjoying video games, I expect to find the video game violence doesn’t have any long term effects and that behavior is generally unchanged. If this is proven incorrect, I will then assume that violence in movies and television shows produce the same effect.

Sources

1.  A longitudinal study of the association between violent video game play and aggression among adolescents.

Background: An academic study testing if there is a relationship between violent video games and increased aggression over a long period of time. While short term studies have found this to be true, this study refutes that and finds no link between violent video games an increased aggression over the high school years.

Usage: Rather self explanatory, this is one of a variety of studies that measures aggression after playing violent video games. What makes this study possibly more important then the many like it is it does take a longer view of the issue. While I’ll probably use short term studies as well, this should be quite useful in establishing the overall impact of violence in video games.

2.   Chory, Rebecca M., and Alan K. Goodboy. “Is Basic Personality Related To Violent And Non-Violent Video Game Play And Preferences?.” Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking 14.4 (2011): 191-198. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Feb. 2012.

Background: This study examines the link between violent video games and violent personalities.

Usage: This is important because it should provide information to answer the question if violence in video games makes people more violent, or if violent people just gravitate toward violent video games. This study may or may not be important to the paper, it depends on if other studies control for this aspect.

Note: Couldn’t get the link to work, so just went with a citation.

3. Violent Video Games: Myths, Facts, and Unanswered Questions

Background: From the American Psychological Association, Craig A. Anderson makes a case against violent video games.

Usage: This source provides a twolfold use. It is a great example of the arguments against violence in video games and also gives a great list of references at the end, presumably of studies that agree with his points. Examining the validity of those studies will be essential to coming to a conclusion on whether violence in video games has a significant effect.

Personal Note: Seriously, the description of what “some” video games contain cannot be taken seriously. Some fairly well known books contain underage sex, torture, cannibalism and more, but does that mean we should stop reading books?

Also, a good portion of the studies cited are his own, which means he may have come into this article just a mite biased.

4. The effect of video game competition and violence on aggressive behavior: Which characteristic has the greatest influence?

Background: Another important study that concludes that it’s not violence that has an effect on behavior, but rather competitiveness.

Usage: This may be the focus of a significant portion of my paper, because if competition is the cause for changes in behavior then it possibly invalidates many studies that did not take this into effect.

5. “MY AVATAR BEHAVES WELL AND THIS FEELS RIGHT”: IDEAL AND OUGHT SELVES IN VIDEO GAMING.

Background: A study that actually that seems to support a positive change in behavior after violent gaming. According to the study, people recently playing violent video games would donate more money than those who did not.

Usage: This opens up the avenue of research into positive changes from video games, and whether the benefits outweigh the costs.

Proposal:

The topic I have decided to research is steroids actually being a good thing for sports. I believe that my research will prove that making steroids legal in sports will benefit the athletes and the leagues. Anabolic steroids are performance enhancing drugs that are used to build muscle. They are not allowed in sports even though many athletes are using them. Many people are against steroids because they believe it is unfair or unsafe. I plan to research how making steroids legal is actually more fair by evening the playing field, since many athletes are already using them. I will also hope to find that it would be less dangerous for athletes because if they want steroids they will take them regardless. Therefore, having a doctor administer the steroids will make them as safe as possible. Along with the benefits to individual athletes I will look at how legalizing steroids will benefit the sport as a whole. I plan to find evidence that it will increase ticket sales and interest in sports. More specifically I will be looking at these benefits in relation to professional baseball.

Sources:

1. Evening the Playing Field: http://www.steroid.com/steroids-in-sports.php

Summary: This source provides information on how long steroids have been being used by athletes. It provides information on how steroid use was started in many sports. It gives a detailed background on the use of steroids by professional athletes.

How I intend to use: I plan on using this information to show the reader that steroids are already being used by many athletes regardless of it being illegal. I hope to prove that making steroids legal is just evening the playing field for the athletes that follow the rules.

2.Home Runs: http://webusers.npl.illinois.edu/~a-nathan/pob/BRJ-Steroids-v3.pdf

Summary: The source provides information on how steroids increase muscle mass. It proves the relationship between increased muscle mass and increased bat speed. It then ties increased bat speed into increased batted ball speed. To conclude it shows how batted ball speed directly correlates to home run production.

How I intend to use: I intend on using this source to prove the obvious; steroids increase home run production in professional baseball. Everyone knows that viewers like big hits and home runs. Showing that steroids increase home run productions will prove that steroids increase interest in the game.

3.  Negative Effects: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/04/27/long.term.anabolic.steroid.use.may.weaken.heart.more.previously.thought

Summary: This source describes the negative effects of using steroids. It shows that the left ventricle is weaker in those who use steroids. The left ventricle is the hearts main pumping chamber. It describes the significant link between steroid use and heart impairment.

How I intend to use: Even though I am trying to prove that steroids should be legal in sports I will acknowledge the opposing argument. I will show the negative outcome of using steroids. This will provide me with a more complete understanding of steroids. Knowing the negatives along with the positives will allow reader to see the pros and cons and decide which has more better.

4. Don’t Inject: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=e7d340fe-ac10-4c55-b1d8-0914c072d7d4%40sessionmgr13&vid=25&hid=8&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=10831460

Summary: This source describes the dangers of dirty needles. Dirty needles are a huge cause of spreading infections and diseases. Dirty needles account for a third of all reported AIDs cases. They are also the reason most people who use needles long term get hepatitis C.

How I intend to use: I will use this article to prove my point that legalizing steroids is the safer than the current use of steroids. I will explain how athletes who want steroids will use them regardless and it is unsafe for them to inject them on their own. I’ll use this source to explain that making steroids legal and allowing doctors to be the ones to administer them is the safest.

5. Mark McGwire:

Summary: This is a source that shows how ticket sales went up when Mark McGwire signed a three-year contract with the St.Louis Cardinals. The next year the Cardinals added 600,000 ticket sales. In the 1998 season the Cardinals broke their record for most fans in a season with 3.22 million fans. By acquiring McGwire and the attendance rising from the 1997 to 1998 season he produced about 5.5 million dollars in revenue.

How I intend to use: I will use this article on Mark McGwire to show that steroids benefit the MLB. It has been admitted by Mark McGwire himself that he used steroids. Mark McGwire increasing ticket sales shows that steroids will actually bring baseball more fans and a higher profit. I will provide this as a specific example of the positive effect of allowing steroids in baseball.