Miguel Fernandes

Research question:​ Do action video games improve your reaction speed after a day of school?

Background: ​From action-packed shooter games to challenging strategy games, we all love a
good video game​. ​With technology evolving and game developers continuing to produce fresh
content, there seems to be a new game to play every day. Although it is a very controversial
topic to many, it is impossible to avoid how much the gaming industry has evolved. Games have
become more immersive and keep pushing the limit between real and virtual. Over the years
Gaming has become a huge part of my life, it has managed to encapsulate me in my own little
world that enables me to completely block out my surroundings. Video games played directly
influences and impacts memory, spatial awareness, information institutions, and fine motor skills
regions of the brain.

In many daily circumstances reaction speed is important. However, usually quick decisions
mean more errors. It remains unclear to this day whether reaction times can be reduced with
sufficient training, within a single person, over a wide range of tasks, and without sacrificing
precision.My goal is to test whether action games can improve reaction speed across various
tasks beyond video game situations. Playing video action games — contemporary examples
include the God of War, Halo, Unreal Tournament, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty —
requires rapid processing of sensory input and immediate action, requiring players to make
choices and conduct responses at a much greater speed than is common in daily life.During
game play, processing delays can have serious implications, providing players with a major
motivation to speed up. Accordingly, anecdotal evidence exists that avid game players respond
to their environment more readily. However, it remains unclear if any decrease in reaction time
actually generalizes activities beyond playing video games and, if so, if it makes gamers more
impulsive and prone to error making.

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making, social interaction, personality, and
cognitive planning for the brain. Therefore, it makes sense that this brain region is influenced by
playing a game that allows players to prepare ahead and understand how to use and
communicate in a simulated environment with objects.The right hippocampus plays an
significant role in how information is stored and integrated like short-term and long-term
memory. Scientists have seen development here too, triggered by the use of this brain
component by athletes.The cerebellum is also affected — the portion of the brain that regulates
fine motor abilities or muscle movement. Which is important when it comes to reflexes and
reaction speed.

My motivation for choosing this research question actually takes me away from the video game
aspect of things and more into sports. From a young age a huge part of my life has been taken
over by Football, I am very passionate about the sport and I love playing it. As I intend to pursue
Football in the future, I always strive to stay fit, healthy and as consistent as possible. Football is
a sport that requires explosive speed as the pace the sport is played in changes very drastically
throughout a game. A Football athlete has to be able to have an explosive reaction in order to
Miguel Fernandes

react to changes faster. As I am always trying to improve myself as an athlete I feel by doing an
IA on reaction speed can help me improve my reaction speed.

Variable Explanation of why variable needs to be How it is controlled

controlled and Value Used

Age group Controlling the age group is very important I will control this
because using different age groups can variable by keeping
cause my data to be inconsistent. As my age group
reaction time is very dependent on speed between the ages
and awareness age can greatly contribute 15-25. This will help
to this. improve my data
consistency.

Time that The time is also a very important factor I will control this by
experiment is when conducting an experiment. In the conducting my
conducted morning most of my test subjects' reactions experiments at the
may be slower as it's early. This could same time. I will
greatly impact my results causing them to conduct them from
be inconsistent. 2-3 PM as I can
expect faster
reactions and more
attentive test
subjects.

Reaction speed The reaction test that I use must remain the To eliminate any
(test) same throughout the experiment. As I am chance of this
aiming to have consistent and reliable happening I will use
results changing the test I use will affect the the same reaction
test subjects thus affecting my results. test so I can have
consistent results.

Video Game played The video game that is played is very I will control this by
important as videogames all cause the allowing my test
gamer to experience different reactions. subjects to only play
Some games are faster paced than others one video game,
which causes gamers to think faster and (Formula 1 2020) to
more alert. Therefore testing my subjects eliminate any
with different games could make my results chance of my results
inconsistent. being inaccurate.
Miguel Fernandes

Video game played As stated above I have chosen Formula 1

(extra) 2020 to play. F1 2020 is a fun action/racing
game that requires gamers to have
extremely fast and smart
reactions/decisions. The game requires
maximum focus to be fast. I believe this
suits the experiment as I think it will improve
the gamers reaction speed.

surroundings As a gamer I feel I always perform better in I will make sure my

the game when I am immersed in it. test subjects can be
Distractions like noise, and light can cause alone for 30 minutes
me to lose focus and I feel this needs to be in a closed space to
controlled as it can affect my data. increase immersion
between the game
and player. My test
subjects will not be
allowed to interact
with anyone during
the experiment.

Method:

“Do action video games improve your reaction speed after a day of school?”, Looking at this
research question it is obvious to see that my method will be highly dependent on it. I aim to
conduct my experiment after school, as you tend to come home in need of a rest. Once home I
will ask my test subjects to do a reaction test three times so that I may compare my data once
they have played the video game. Once done they will play an action video game (Formula 1
2020) for 30 minutes. After the recommended time is completed a reaction test would be
conducted, the test subject will be tested three times. Running the experiment in this order will
ensure that it remains relevant with my research question. I believe this will allow me to answer
my research question quite easily as my method is very straightforward and follows the outline
of my question, where my independent and dependent variables are stated.

I believe that my method will be very effective in acquiring the data I need as it requires that I
test my subjects consistently throughout the experiment. I believe that if I control all of the
possible complications I can have a successful experiment. Thus giving me more reliable data
that I can use.
Miguel Fernandes

Apparatus:

- Gaming device, (Xbox one, Ps4, PC)

- Timer

- Laptop

- Reaction speed test (Website name: Human benchmark

(​https://humanbenchmark.com/tests/reactiontime/​)

- Controller/steering wheel

- F1 2020 Game

- TV

- Speaker

- Free room (nobody inside except subject)

- Water

- Chair

Methodology:

1. Test subject will return from school

2. Test subject will use the bathroom to prevent any distractions
3. Test subject will walk into an available room
4. Test subject will ensure all test requirements are available and ready to use
5. Test subject will switch on TV
6. Test subject will switch on gaming device
7. Test subject will make sure speakers and preferred controller are ready to be used
8. Test subject will run selected game (F1 2020)
9. Test subject will prepare timer
10. Test subject will sit down
11. Test subject will switch on laptop
12. Test subject will go on to reaction speed test on computer
13. Test subject will test him/her, self 3 times
14. Test subject will record data on computer
15. Test subject will prepare to begin playing the video game
Miguel Fernandes

16. Test subject will begin timer for 30 minutes

17. Test subject will start the experiment
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18. After test subject has completed required time he/her will switch off TV and gaming
console
19. Test subject will switch on computer
20. Test subject will go on to reaction speed test on computer
21. Test subject will test him/her, self 3 times
22. Test subject will record data on computer
23. Test subject will make notes of data
Experiment complete