The Effect of Video Games UGC 0725007

 

INTRODUCTION

Video games have become a huge part of modern life, especially among young people. By 2023, over 3 billion people around the world play video games and most of them are young! But there’s a long-running debate: Do video games harm students’ academic performance? Some say games waste time and reduce focus, while others claim they improve problem-solving and teamwork. video games really affect university students’ Grade Point Average . 

the first game was made in 1958 , simple tennis game  displayed via an oscilloscope as a screen .The game is known as the tennis for two , whare two players would be playing tennis on the screen [1]

SUMMARY 

Even today , video  games remain massively popular  worldwide , and the number of players continues to grow as time passes. video games have also been viewed as negatively impacting academic performance .Interestingly, however, video games have also been found to bring many positive benefits despite people's negative perception towards them . 

This study focused on 100 university students in Tangerang. The researchers used questionnaires to collect data about how much time students spend playing games, studying, and their GPA (Grade Point Average).Then, using several statistical tests such as the Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman’s correlation tests  they analyzed the relationship between gaming habits and academic performance .Most students play games for around 2–3 hours per day. The average GPA among respondents was 3.49.The most popular game genres were shooters and MOBA games, and the most used platforms were mobile and PC. Interestingly, the final results showed no significant correlation between time spent gaming and students’ GPA. In short, playing video games doesn’t directly affect academic performance.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Limited Scope of GPA: The study uses the current GPA of respondents. This is a single, static measure that might not reflect a long-term trend or change related to gaming habits. The conclusion itself suggests a need for analysis of GPA data from several subsequent semesters for a more comprehensive view The debate over the effect of video games on students' academic performance is complex, with research presenting mixed findings that range from concerns about addiction and failing grades to evidence of cognitive and leadership benefits. A balanced, critical analysis reveals that the true impact hinges less on whether a student plays, and more on how much and what type of game they engage with

Argument for Negative Impacts

The most pressing concern centers on addiction and displacement of study time. Excessive online game addiction has been shown to negatively affect a student's engagement in learning—behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively—which can lead to a reduced motivation for academic achievement.

Deterioration of Grades: Studies show that students who play for long hours, especially late at night, often experience a deterioration in their subject grades.

The Argument for Positive Impacts

The negative narrative often overshadows significant findings on the cognitive and social benefits of gaming.

Social and Leadership Benefits: Multiplayer games, particularly those that require collaboration, encourage teamwork and can help develop leadership skills in persuasion, motivation, and mediation.

CONCLUTION

The study concluded that there is no significant correlation between time spent on video games and students’ academic performance. In simple terms, playing games doesn’t automatically make your grades worse. However, students should be mindful of how much time they spend gaming and ensure they still make space for studying and rest.

References : "The Effect of video Games Towards the Students' Academic Performance"

Authors : Yohanes Brain Caesaryano lala and Raymonf Oetama