Study Links Video Game Use to Problems in School

Study Links Video Game Use to Problems in School

A new study warns that too much time spent playing computer games could affect a child's performance at school.

Britain's National Children’s Bureau¹ Northern Ireland reported the results of the study. They show that too many hours spent playing games can reduce students' chances of success in school.

The National Children's Bureau explores issues affecting children and young people in the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, the group’s Northern Ireland office reported the results of a study called "ICT and Me."

The research project involved more than 600 individuals between the ages of 14 and 16. It took place over a period of two years, from 2012 to 2014. It is said to be the first ever long-term study in Northern Ireland on the influence of information technology on school test results.

The study found that teenagers who played computer games less than once a week were more successful in school than those who played them twice a day or more. Forty-one percent of the students who used gaming devices² two or more times a day received passing grades on school exams. That compared with 77 percent of those who rarely played the games.

The study found that social media use did not affect school performance.

Celine McStravick is the director of the National Children’s Bureau Northern Ireland. She says the study showed no connection between social media and test results.

"It was clear that social media didn't have any impact³. I think that’s more because social media is part of every child’s life. It’s the way they communicate; it’s the way they keep in touch with their friends."

Many parents say their children are becoming increasingly⁴ dependent⁵ on computer games. Some have compared gaming to a drug addiction⁶. However, the study did not explore addiction. But it did suggest that computer games can cause children to stay awake late at night. Less sleep makes children tired and unable to pay attention in school the next day.

Mark Starkey is the owner of a video game arcade⁷ in London. He says another problem is that the new games are much different from older ones.

"The ability to make games, like, a lot bigger, a lot more detailed⁸ is here now. It’s gonna hold their attention longer. It’s gonna hold it a lot longer, because there’s always, kind of, wanting to progress through the storyline. The old games they challenge your speed, your timing⁹ rather than, perhaps, your imagination."

For many years, the computer games industry has claimed there is no connection between games and addiction. But study organizers say more research is needed to establish the effect of computer-game playing on performance at school.

Words in This Story

grade(s) – n. a number or letter that shows how a student performed in a class or on a test

impact – n. a powerful or major influence or effect

addiction – n. a strong and harmful need to regularly have something or do something

arcade – n. a place with many games that can be played for money

imagination – n. the ability to form a picture in your mind of something that you have not seen or experienced

1 bureau   

n.提供或收集消息的机构；局，司，处；署

参考例句：

• The weather bureau makes daily reports on weather conditions.气象局每天报告天气状况。
• The Tourist Bureau arranged everything for our journey to Rome.旅游局已为我们去罗马旅行准备了一切。

2 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

3 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

4 increasingly   

adv.逐渐地，日益地，逐渐增加地

参考例句：

• Rivers are being increasingly made use of by man. 河流正在日益为人类所利用。
• I find it increasingly difficult to live within my income.我发现靠收入过日子越来越难了。

5 dependent   

adj.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者

参考例句：

• He has a mother completely dependent on him.他有一个完全靠他赡养的母亲。
• The country is dependent on foreign aid.这个国家靠外援生存。

6 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

7 arcade   

n.拱廊；(一侧或两侧有商店的)通道

参考例句：

• At this time of the morning,the arcade was almost empty.在早晨的这个时候，拱廊街上几乎空无一人。
• In our shopping arcade,you can find different kinds of souvenir.在我们的拱廊市场，你可以发现许多的纪念品。

8 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

9 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。