Rodriguez 1

Jose Rodriguez

Professor Briones

ENGL 1302-261

February 21, 2024

Literature Review Draft

Multiple studies have been conducted in order to know whether or not video games can

benefit mental health. According to studies, individuals that play video games have a wide age

range which can lead to different psychological effects. Not only this, but research shows that

some video games can be used in an educational sense to make learning seem more interesting.

On top of that, studies have been conducted to find out if video games can help individuals

improve their social skills. Research from multiple articles and studies has been used in order to

provide a multitude of information on these topics.

Cognitive Skills

Based on research by Ahn, Hyoyeon, and Jongeun Won, video games aren't as bad as

people make them out to be. They conducted a study and gathered information in order to prove

that video games have benefits and not only disadvantages. The researchers conducted a series of

tests that included the Trail Making Test, Corsi Block Test, Tower of London, Stroop Test,

Raven Progressive Matrices, Multi-Tasking, Key-Mapping, Grid Shot, Sphere Track, and

Reaction time. After the tests, Ahn, Hyoyeon, and Jongeun Won studied the results and came to

a conclusion. They state “This study revealed that regular game participation among adolescents

can have positive effects and changes on cognitive function and motor control skills” (14) and

“this study distinguishes itself from previous research that relied on single-measurement tests by

utilizing a range of cognitive function and motor control skill tests” (14). In addition, research by
 Rodriguez 2

Bediou, Benoit, et al helps back up the idea of video games positively affecting cognitive skills.

One of the cognitive skills that Bediou, Benoit, et al mentions is Top-Down attention and Spatial

Cognition. They state “action video game play clearly loads on perception, top-down attention,

spatial cognition, multi-tasking and inhibition”(57).

On the contrary, One article stated that they did not believe video games benefited

cognitive skills as much as others believe. Research by Unsworth, Nash, et al states that video

games don't have as significant of a benefit on cognitive skills. They gathered their information

from a range of individuals who all had different levels of video game experience, different age,

and gender. They then conducted a series of tests that every individual had to do. In the end,

Unsworth, Nash, et al studied their results and came to their conclusion, “the data provide little

evidence for a relation between processing speed and video-game experience” (769) and “we

also examined the correlations separately for males and females and found that there were no

differences as a function of gender” (769).

Education

According to research by Martín-del-Pozo, Marta, et al, Video games would greatly help

increase the motivation for students to learn. According to them, “the implementation of

gamification and video games in education has improved motivation for primary education

students, secondary education students and even higher education students”(2). Martín-del-Pozo,

Marta, et al then state the many ways to combine video games. It is stated that “collaborative

learning between students can happen inside the video game, outside the game, or in both spaces

(inside and outside the video game) depending on the type of educational strategy or activity the

teacher chooses to implement” (2) and then “students feel more motivated to face the educational

process, and in turn, obtain learning gains” (2). In addition, research by Rodríguez-Ponga, Diego
 Rodriguez 3

helps add to Martín-del-Pozo, Marta, et al’s research. Rodríguez-Ponga, Diego states how

History is one of the least liked subjects. He then goes into detail on a simulator video game

called Europa Universalis IV. “They are a powerful way of modifying our way of

communicating, of changing the words we use in education. Europa Universalis IV is just one

example of this” (155). He mentions how students learn better by interacting rather than just

listening. “Interactive language is much more attractive and powerful” (140).

Social Skills

A study by Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, et al was conducted in order to collect information

on whether video games help benefit children’s social skills or not. Most people believe that

video games have no benefit to social skills but in reality, video games do have an impact on

children’s social skills. Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, et al states that “the data presented here

suggest that video games are a protective factor [in social skills].” Similarly, a study conducted

by Johnson, Julie, et al dives into information on how video games can benefit children's social

skills by incorporating video games into school. According to the schools involved in the study,

the group of boys had a hard time using their social skills at the right time. “At times, their

inopportune socializing with each other prevented them from finishing their class work.” In order

to help fix this, the schools incorporated a time during recess for the students to use a Wii and

socialize properly with other students. This led to students having more interest in wanting to

learn because they would be rewarded with recess time. “Students were interested and eager to

attend the recess group.”

According to all of these articles, introducing children to video games at a young age can

help them learn skills that are very important in life such as: cognitive skills, social skills, motor

control skills and many more. By conducting multiple studies, information has been gathered to
 Rodriguez 4

help educate others on the positive outcomes of video games rather than focus on the

stereotypical negative outcomes.

 Rodriguez 5

Works Cited

Ahn, Hyoyeon, and Jongeun Won. “The Effects of Adolescents’ Participation in Video

Games on Cognitive Function and Motor Control Skills.” Healthcare (Basel), vol. 11, no.

20, 2023, pp. 2740-

Bediou, Benoit, et al. “Meta-Analysis of Action Video Game Impact on Perceptual,

Attentional, and Cognitive Skills.” Psychological Bulletin, vol. 144, no. 1, 2018, pp. 77–

110

Johnson, Julie, et al. “Wii Social Skills Group and Inter-School Tournament.”

Partnership, vol. 6, no. 2, 2011, pp. 1-

Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, et al. “Is Time Spent Playing Video Games Associated with

Mental Health, Cognitive and Social Skills in Young Children?” Social Psychiatry and

Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 51, no. 3, 2016, pp. 349–57

Marín-Suelves, Diana, et al. “Videogames and Education: Analysing of Research

Trends.” Revista colombiana de educación (Bogotá, Colombia : 1978), no. 84, 2022

Martín-del-Pozo, Marta, et al. “Video Games and Collaborative Learning in Education?

A Scale for Measuring In-Service Teachers’ Attitudes towards Collaborative Learning

with Video Games.” Informatics (Basel), vol. 6, no. 3, 2019, pp. 30-

Rodríguez-Ponga, Diego. “The Application of Video Games in Education.”

Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education, vol. 10, no. 1(19), 2021

Unsworth, Nash, et al. “Is Playing Video Games Related to Cognitive Abilities?”

Psychological Science, vol. 26, no. 6, 2015, pp. 759-