Open AccessA comparative analysis of the processing speed between video game players and non-players
Author(s) -
Helena Pardina Torner,
Xavier Carbonell,
Marcos Castejón
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aloma
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.198
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2339-9694
pISSN - 1138-3194
DOI - 10.51698/aloma.2019.37.1.13-20
Subject(s) - video game , computer science , multimedia , sample (material) , cognition , psychology , applied psychology , cognitive psychology , chemistry , chromatography , neuroscience
Speed is an essential cognitive skill in our day to day life, as such, it has been extensively studied. The uncertainty of whether the processing speed can be increased with appropriate training-within one individual, across a range of tasks, and without compromising accuracy- remains to this day. The aim of the present study was to analyse the processing speed of video game players and compare it to non-video game players to see if there are any significant differences between these two groups. To this end, a questionnaire on gaming habits and sociodemographic data, and two tests that evaluate the processing speed were administered to a sample of 50 university students from different degrees. The scores were then compared and, taking into account the possible errors, results showed that video game players have a shorter reaction time than non-video game players and that neither of the groups made more mistakes than the other.