Word Cloud

This semester in Eng 122, I learned a few more ways to research a topic. Prior to this class, I did not know of all of the different types of searches that can be performed. I had always used google and that was it. I also learned about a few of the differences between MLA and APA format, and specific instances in which each format would be used in situations outside of college classes.

RJA #11 - Fallacies

#1 - Ad Hominem Attack - I play video games and do not believe that the games themselves cause increased violence in real life. Since I enjoy video games, I have a biased opinion, regardless of any evidence that I show to support my claim.

#2 - Genetic Fallacy - The man that invented the video game also worked on the Atomic bomb and the Manhattan Project. Also, since military and police forces also use video games and simulators to train. Being developed by one of the men responsible for the atomic bomb and being used by police and military, video games are meant to be violent and therefore increase violent behaviors in all gamers.

#3 - Red Herring - Video games cause violence (in fact, many gamers that are violent have other mental or emotional issues that cause the violence). Blame the video game instead of identifying and treating the real problem.

#4 - Faulty Appeal to Authority - A psychologist for the State of California said that video games cause increased violence in children, therefore it must be true... After all, he has a doctorate and is an expert.

#12 - Proof by Lack of Evidence - Psychologists cannot prove that violent video games do not cause increased violence, therefore games MUST cause increased violence.

#13 - Hasty Generalization - All video games are violent.

#14 - Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold played the game "Doom" and then attacked fellow students at Columbine HS, therefore, the game "Doom" caused the Columbine shooting.

Video Wall (Extra Credit)

RJA #7

Field Research Plan: As of yet, I am unsure exactly who I am going to interview. I am awaiting  word from several child psychologist's and family counselors. I do not know exactly what I am going to ask yet, but my plan is to speak to experts on both sides of the topic that I have chosen for my research paper.

Evaluation of Sources:

Webpage Annotation:
Debatepedia: Do violent video games cause an increase in violence and criminal acts among their players?

Link to my Diigo account

RJA #6

Search Engine used: Yebol
Keywords used: video game violence
operators used: none
date of search: 21 JUN 2011
number of hits: Unknown
relevance of hits: 4 of 5

Multi/Meta search engine used: Cacti Search
Keywords used: video game violence
operators used: none
date of search 22 JUN 2011
number of hits: 41,300,000
relevance of hits 3 of 5

Directory searched: Yahoo! Directory
keywords used: video game violence
operators used: none
date of search: 22 JUN 2011
number of hits: 6
relevance of hits: 2 of 5

Invisible web search tool used: DeepPeep
keywords used: video game violence
operators used: none
date of search: 22 JUN 2011
number of hits: 1
relevance of hits: 1 of 5

RJA #5

Web:
Resource searched: Citizendium
Keywords Searched: video game violence
operators used: video +game +violence
date of search: 20 JUN 2011
number of hits: 500
relevance of hits: 2 of 5

Resource searched: Debatepedia
keyword searched: video game violence
operators used: none
date of search: 20 JUN 2011
number of hits: 15
relevance of hits: 5 of 5

On the site debatepedia.com, I found a debate titled "Causing aggression and crime? - Do violent and crime-oriented video games lead to increased aggression, violence and criminal acts among their players?" This debate provides arguments for both sides of this issue. As of yet, it is the most relevant page I have come across

Books:
Reference: Auraria Library
Keywords searched: video game violence
operators used: none
Date of search: 20 JUN 2011
Hits: 14
Relevance of hits: 5 of 5

Stop teaching our kids to kill: a call to action against TV, movie & video game violence by Dave Grossman. Published by Crown Publishers, New York, 1999

Fans, bloggers and gamers: exploring participatory culture by Henry Jenkins. published by New York University Press, New York, 2006

Grand theft childhood: the surprising truth about violent video games and what parents can do by Lawrence Kutner. Published by Simon & Schuster, New York, 2008

Violent video game effects on children and adolescents: theory, research, and public policy by Craig Anderson. Published by Oxford University Press, New York, 2007

Children, gender, video games: towards a relational approach to multimedia by Valerie Walkerdine. Published by Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2007

RJA #4

Keywords: 
violence, video game, youth, teen, child, young, headshot, kill, shoot, shooting, shooter, psychology, psychologist


Search Strings: 
video +game +violence +children
video +game +violence +increase +violent crime
video +game +violence +"increase in violent crime" +youth +teen
video AND game AND violence AND youth OR child OR teen
video AND game AND violence AND desensitization
youth AND violence AND "video gam*" AND increase


Field Research: Psychologist, counselors,

RJA #3

     I searched Google Scholar using the question "Does violence in video games significantly contribute to an increase in violence in society?", I am finding many articles that say yes and many that say no. One of the larger topics that keeps popping up is what I am calling the "youth factor." Most of these articles stress age when studying the effects of media violence. Also, instead of just concentrating on video games, all media is included, such as television, news, movies, and of course, video games.
     One of the groups that I am seeing often believes that media does increase violence in youth is the American Academy of Pediatrics. They feel that media violence does increase the risk for violent behavior in younger subjects. Other groups state that media violence does not necessarily contribute to a rise in violence.
     Some other topics that are arising are that media may be desensitizing youth to violence, the rating system for movies and video games, and who should be responsible for keeping extremely violent content out of the hands of the young.

RJA #2

     The topic that I have chosen is "Does violence in video games significantly contribute to an increase in violence in society?" I chose this topic because I am interested in video games, and having a military background, I am intimately familiar with violence. I am interested in researching whether or not video game violence actually does cause a rise in violence in society.
     I already know that video games (hereafter referred to simply as games) reward headshots, multiple kills, etc, and that young, impressionable children and teens are exposed to game violence on a daily basis. It has been shown that some gamers, regardless of age, can and do shoot better than trained marksmen (police, military, etc), and that more of these shots are head shots, as opposed to the center mass shots of professionals.
     What I do not know is whether or not there is any scientific proof that violence in games contributes to more violence in society. Games, movies, music and other forms of entertainment are accused of causing violence and problems by any number of groups. Is there any scientific basis for these accusations?

RJA #1

Possible topics for Research Paper:

1. Is it cost effective to mine alternate sources of fossil fuels (sand, etc) in order to reduce foreign dependence on oil?
2. Does violence in video games significantly contribute to a rise in violence in society?
3. Does technology contribute to the downfall of effective communication (texting and e-mailing vs. talking and writing?
4. Is Military/Veteran medical care sub-par compared to civilian medical care?
5. Did the US "lose" the Vietnam War?