Reaction time and working memory in gamers and non-gamers

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Experimental Psychology

Background:

• Video game research often involves questionnaires about playing habits.
• The timing of these questionnaires in relation to cognitive tasks is not well understood.
• Potential for expectancy effects to influence task performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if questionnaire timing (before vs. after tasks) impacts gamer and non-gamer performance.
• To determine if this timing influences cognitive-motor task outcomes.
• To identify potential biases in video game research.

Main Methods:

• 131 participants (gamers and non-gamers) completed cognitive-motor tasks (choice-RT, Simon, task-switching, digit span).
• Participants answered a video game habits questionnaire either before or after task performance.
• Performance metrics included reaction times and accuracy.

Main Results:

• Gamers showed faster reaction times in the Simon task when the questionnaire was administered before tasks.
• Non-gamers exhibited slower reaction times in the Simon and task-switching tasks when the questionnaire was administered before tasks.
• These findings suggest a response expectancy effect influenced by questionnaire timing.

Conclusions:

• Administering video game questionnaires before cognitive tasks can create expectancy effects.
• These effects can positively impact gamers and negatively impact non-gamers.
• Researchers should consider questionnaire timing to avoid biasing studies on video games and cognitive performance.