AbstractAbstractThis study was done in order to compare the This study was done in order to compare the

motivations for playing video games between men and motivations for playing video games between men and women. The sample population was derived from the morning women. The sample population was derived from the morning students of the Psychology department at Mesa Community students of the Psychology department at Mesa Community College. Each person was given a short survey which included College. Each person was given a short survey which included their gender and ten motivations to choose one from. The their gender and ten motivations to choose one from. The measurement is nominal and the study is correlational.measurement is nominal and the study is correlational.

IntroductionIntroductionVideo games have been around since the Video games have been around since the

1980s and have been emerging continuously into the 1980s and have been emerging continuously into the general cultural zeitgeist of the new millennium. There general cultural zeitgeist of the new millennium. There is a popular belief that video games are a more male is a popular belief that video games are a more male oriented activity. But, it is becoming known that video oriented activity. But, it is becoming known that video game play is popular amongst females as well. There game play is popular amongst females as well. There are many different motivations for gaming and they are many different motivations for gaming and they vary greatly. vary greatly.

It is obvious that video games main It is obvious that video games main purpose is for entertaining, but a lot of things factor purpose is for entertaining, but a lot of things factor into the reasoning behind peoples will to game. Men into the reasoning behind peoples will to game. Men and women operate very differently, and although they and women operate very differently, and although they are both participating in equal amounts of time logged are both participating in equal amounts of time logged gaming, the question is whether or not their gaming, the question is whether or not their motivations differ. The research that is to be done is motivations differ. The research that is to be done is for the purpose of finding what are men and women’s for the purpose of finding what are men and women’s strongest motivations.strongest motivations.

Studies have been done that show how Studies have been done that show how multiple online role-playing games (MORPG) are played multiple online role-playing games (MORPG) are played in order to learn. The game based learning supports in order to learn. The game based learning supports intrinsic motivation. When playing these games, small intrinsic motivation. When playing these games, small quests are given and achieved, through this quests are given and achieved, through this exploration and manipulation stimulate knowledge. exploration and manipulation stimulate knowledge. Additionally, through conversation and collaboration Additionally, through conversation and collaboration with other game players, understanding and learning with other game players, understanding and learning are also stimulated. This is applied to both men and are also stimulated. This is applied to both men and women alike (Dickey, 2006).women alike (Dickey, 2006).

It is shown that people who play certain It is shown that people who play certain video games that are avatar based (an avatar is a video games that are avatar based (an avatar is a customized cyber being you create on video games and customized cyber being you create on video games and consoles, such as the Wii. You play as this character consoles, such as the Wii. You play as this character and control “cyber world” as them) have a high sense and control “cyber world” as them) have a high sense of “self” (Park, Jin, 2009). People play as these avatars of “self” (Park, Jin, 2009). People play as these avatars as if they were themselves, when interacting with and as if they were themselves, when interacting with and as them; they developed better social interaction than as them; they developed better social interaction than those who didn’t play with an avatar. This shows that those who didn’t play with an avatar. This shows that some people may play video games in order to become some people may play video games in order to become in touch with themselves. in touch with themselves.

People play video games in order to People play video games in order to interact and be social. In Effects of Prosocial Video interact and be social. In Effects of Prosocial Video Games on ProSocial Behavior (Greitemeyer, Osswald Games on ProSocial Behavior (Greitemeyer, Osswald 2010) it is shown that if participants play social video 2010) it is shown that if participants play social video gamesgames that they are more that they are more

likely to be willing to help in a social environment. likely to be willing to help in a social environment. They are also more likely to have more They are also more likely to have more social/proactive thoughts. They also state that social/proactive thoughts. They also state that positive music helps in the same regards. Therefore, positive music helps in the same regards. Therefore, it is shown that when individuals play positive video it is shown that when individuals play positive video games in a social environment, while all the game games in a social environment, while all the game tunes are playing, these people will be more likely to tunes are playing, these people will be more likely to assist other people. assist other people.

Another reason for video game play is Another reason for video game play is lack of motivation to do outdoor activities, and lack of motivation to do outdoor activities, and instead wanting to be leisurely. A Structural Model instead wanting to be leisurely. A Structural Model of Leisure Constraints Negotiation in Outdoor of Leisure Constraints Negotiation in Outdoor Recreation (White, 2001) it is shown that Recreation (White, 2001) it is shown that participants go through a leisure constraint participants go through a leisure constraint negotiation in order to convince themselves that negotiation in order to convince themselves that outdoor participation is not needed. The data was outdoor participation is not needed. The data was taken from a random sample of people in Arizona. taken from a random sample of people in Arizona. Motivation is countered by constraint causing a Motivation is countered by constraint causing a negative psychological mishap. This is indirectly negative psychological mishap. This is indirectly linked to participating in less strenuous activity such linked to participating in less strenuous activity such as video games. as video games.

Because of different motivations Because of different motivations between men and women, there are also different between men and women, there are also different skills put to work on tasks in video games. Is it skills put to work on tasks in video games. Is it shown (Ferguson, Cruz, Rueda, 2007) that men have shown (Ferguson, Cruz, Rueda, 2007) that men have a higher capability of performing visuospacial a higher capability of performing visuospacial activities, which require visual memory. There is also activities, which require visual memory. There is also questioning as to whether or not playing violent questioning as to whether or not playing violent video games can improve this or not. The answer video games can improve this or not. The answer was yes in both men and women. But the motivation was yes in both men and women. But the motivation is questionable when asking whether or not men or is questionable when asking whether or not men or women will play more in order to improve their women will play more in order to improve their visual memory, or because it’s already well rounded. visual memory, or because it’s already well rounded.

My hypothesis is that men will play My hypothesis is that men will play video games for more personal reasons, and that video games for more personal reasons, and that women will engage in order to interact and be more women will engage in order to interact and be more social. Men game in order to achieve personal goals social. Men game in order to achieve personal goals and/or to relieve stress from other personal things in and/or to relieve stress from other personal things in their lives. Women are generally known as the social their lives. Women are generally known as the social gender of the human race, so it would come as no gender of the human race, so it would come as no surprised to find that their motivation behind surprised to find that their motivation behind gaming would be directly affected.gaming would be directly affected.

MethodMethodParticipantsParticipantsThe participants used in this study The participants used in this study were men and women between the were men and women between the ages of 18 and 25. All of the ages of 18 and 25. All of the participants attend Mesa Community participants attend Mesa Community College, they all attend morning College, they all attend morning classes, and they are all Psychology classes, and they are all Psychology students. There were a total of 20 men students. There were a total of 20 men and 20 women. Quota sampling was and 20 women. Quota sampling was used to collect participants.used to collect participants.MaterialsMaterialsA brief survey was given to the A brief survey was given to the participants in order to test the participants in order to test the hypothesis. An nominal scale was used hypothesis. An nominal scale was used to make measurements. The survey to make measurements. The survey consisted of a series of ten different consisted of a series of ten different motivations for video game play. motivations for video game play. Participants were asked to select their Participants were asked to select their gender then were asked to select the gender then were asked to select the one motivation out the ten that one motivation out the ten that applied best to them as an individual. applied best to them as an individual. A sample motivation would be: “For A sample motivation would be: “For relaxation”. relaxation”. ProcedureProcedureParticipants were found in a series of Participants were found in a series of Psychology classes such as: Research Psychology classes such as: Research Methods, Forensic Psychology, and Methods, Forensic Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology. These classes Abnormal Psychology. These classes were all morning classes between the were all morning classes between the times of 8 AM to 12 PM. The teacher, times of 8 AM to 12 PM. The teacher, of these classes, was asked permission of these classes, was asked permission to have her students take a survey at to have her students take a survey at a set time during their class and the a set time during their class and the surveys were distributed accordingly. surveys were distributed accordingly.