Peer Review

The Psychology of Video Games

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Nov 11, 2019 by Psychology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Jamie Madigan, Ph.D., reports on research that examines the intersection of psychology and video games through hundreds of articles, lectures, and podcasts posted on his site.

The "About" link reports a mission "to popularize the application of psychology to creating and understanding video games."

Type of Material:

Collection

Recommended Uses:

This resource would best be used for supplemental readings or homework activities. The collection includes blogs and podcasts by a Ph.D. in psychology with research interests in the intersection of psychology and video games.

Technical Requirements:

None. The materials open in multiple browsers (e.g., Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox). If you elect to listen to podcasts, you will need audio capabilities.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

1) Understand the role of psychology in video game development.

2) Understand the psychology of how individuals are impacted by video games.

3) Recognize the dynamic intersection of psychology and video games.

4) Review the science behind the psychology of video games.

Target Student Population:

College General Ed; undergraduate or graduate students
Students taking classes in gaming and game design, marketing, and psychology, as well as gamers, will find the information useful and interesting.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

A basic understanding of psychology and research methods is useful but not required. An interest in the psychology of gaming would be beneficial.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Blogs and podcasts are high-quality and maintain an emphasis on psychological science. There is a wide breadth of information covering both the use of psychology to design video games as well as the impact of video games on gamers. Content spans a range of topics (intelligence, addiction, decision-making, tests/measures, emotions, harassment, morality, appearance, cognition, self, learning, jealousy, etc) relevant to the psychology of video games. Podcasts include interviews with a number of experts to explain the psychology behind the various components of gaming.
Content is current and covers many issues involved in gaming. Gaming is a huge market, and the research on gaming has expanded a great deal in more recent years. Citations are included for those who want more than the summaries provided.

Concerns:

None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Material is interesting and relevant. Topics are timely and content is presented in a relatable manner. Podcasts can be tied to a wide-range of topics in psychology.
The podcasts also are entertaining and often include guests. The posted content will help researchers reflect on relevant topics and help those interested in gaming understand their behavior and that of others.

Concerns:

The collection is not designed for teaching per se; as such, it is dependent on the instructor to integrate materials into their classroom. Some of the podcasts are a bit long; the length of the podcasts makes the material most appropriate for out-of-class activities.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Articles are clear, easy to read, and insightful. All podcasts and articles can be found via keyword search. There are no pop-ups or advertisements to distract from the website. All links are functional. Podcasts are accompanied by a thorough description.
Most recent posts are on the home page.
Links are logically labeled, and the site is easy to navigate.
Search feature works well; simply type in terms of interest and related posts come up. By entering multiple terms separated by spaces, posts included all terms.
Archives includes the author’s top 10 articles. (Eleven but as he writes, close enough.)
Sign up for the optional newsletter, and you will receive the new blogs or podcasts directly to your email.
Podcasts can be listened to online (from a browser) or through an app such as iTunes.

Concerns:

In order to listen to the podcasts outside of a browser, users must subscribe to apps such as iTunes, Spotify, or Sticher; while the podcasts are free, it does require extra steps to create an account.

Other Issues and Comments:

The information on this site helps one understand the connection between psychology and gaming including the psychology behind good game design, why we act and think as we do while playing games, and the marketing of games.
Material appears to be updated frequently and maintains a scientific look at the psychology of video games. Podcasts include a wide range of experts and show the integration across fields/disciplines.

Creative Commons: