Correlation is key

Outside the construct of the debate over violence in video games emerges this idea of using video games for education. While James Paul Gee and others seem convinced video games are an excellent tool for learning, some people are less convinced. In a study done in 2007 between the correlation of video game usage and GPA and SAT scores, researchers found the more video game usage increased, the lower GPA and SAT scores dropped.(Anand, CyberPsychology and Behavior) This study found the p value of the chi-squared analysis for video game usage and GPA was greater than a 95% confidence level.

While a first glance at this study is likely to cause anyone to dismiss the notion of the educational effects of video games, it is important to note a few punctilios in the study. Although these results show statistical dependence, proving cause and effect remains difficult, since SAT scores represent a single test on a given day. The effects of video games maybe be cumulative; however, drawing a conclusion is difficult because SAT scores represent general knowledge a junior/senior in high school should accumulate during his/her time in school. The correlation between GPA versus video games is more reliable because both involve a continuous measurement of engaged activity and performance.

The traditional real argument against video games in relation to education comes in the child's desire to play video games versus study and complete homework assignments. The health section of US News reported the Media Research Lab at Iowa State University conducted a test where about 8.5 percent of 8-to-18-year-old gamers can be considered pathologically addicted. (http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/05/07/addiction-to-video-games-a-growing-concern.html ) This could perhaps explain the negative correlation between video game usage and GPA and SAT scores, however, in the second part of Anand's analysis, chi-squared results were not significant when comparing time spent studying and an individual's SAT score. This seems almost impossible as our parents and teachers have always told us to study to keep our grades up.

Despite the plethora of studies it is almost impossible to make any factual empirical statements regarding the correlation between video games and education. Therefore, drawing from the aforementioned, we can conclude yes, video games have some educational value, video games have some effect (negative or positive) in student GPA and SAT scores, and most certainly, video game addiction does exist.