If you’re that kind of student, who can’t wait for the last school bell to ring so you can go home and play your all-time favorite video games (rather than do homework), you’re at the right place. If the answer is yes then you are not alone. Gaming is more than a fun hobby, it’s a burgeoning industry in constant evolution that employs the tools of storytelling, technology, psychology and art. But what if you could use some of that passion for gaming in something that might be more impressive to your teachers and that you could mark on your academic record? Welcome to the world of high school research projects about gaming!
Why Researching Games is a Good Idea
Gaming is often seen as a distraction, but it is a contemporary area for academia. Here are reasons why researching games is worthwhile:
Interdisciplinary Nature of Gaming: Video games are an intersection of many fields: computer science, psychology, art, music, narrative, and even economics.
Relevance of Gaming: Video games are part of youth culture and a multi-billion dollar industry.
Innovative Nature of Gaming: The gaming industry is hot on the tails of new technology with AI, virtual reality, and so many more.
Personal Engagement: Much like any desired piece of research, the more you love it, the more likely you will sustain the motivation to complete it and produce a great piece of work.
Stage 1: Find Your Focus
Step one is to draw up a shortlist of your own interests. ‘Gaming’ can be a loose term, so consider:
What about gaming are you most interested in? (Game design, player psychology, esports, story, etc.)
Will you focus on a specific game, genre, or platform?
Are you looking to examine a technical aspect (code, graphics), social aspects (online communities, teamwork), or effects (cognitive skills, behaviours)?
Some example research questions to get you thinking:
How does playing video games impact problem solving skills in teenagers?
What makes a game engaging?
What roles do music and sound play in shaping a player's emotional engagement with the narrative in horror games?
Is there any value to teamwork and communication gained by playing a cooperative game?
What is the economic impact of the microtransaction in freeminium games?
Stage 2: Do Your Homework (Seriously!)
Now that you have a topic, time to do some reading!Make sure you are searching for:
Academic articles: Google Scholar, JSTOR and your school’s library.
Industry reports: Statista, Newzoo, Entertainment Software Association.
Interviews and documentaries on the game or by the game developer: A lot of game developers dish on their process online.
Forums and Community: Websites such as Reddit, Discor or gaming subreddits provide context of perspectives from gamer perspectives.
Take notes, mark up with something you find interesting, and figure out how you can add something to it
Step 3: Select Your Approach
There are many possible forms a research project might take. Here are some options:
1. Experiment
You can design an experiment to test a hypothesis. For example, you could:
Measure a change in time when playing a puzzle game.
Time reaction times before and after playing.
2. Survey or Interview
Create a survey instrument, or survey fellow students or gamers, by asking a few interview questions like:
How many hours a week do you play?
Do you feel gaming helps you relax or socialize?
What motivates you to play certain games?
3. Content Analysis
You can read, or observe and analyse the content of games. For example:
Look at gender representations in some of the large selling video games.
Look at the colour and the sound used in horror games.
4. Technical Project
If you enjoy programming, have a go at creating a simple game or mod and report on the process.
Step 4: Collect and Analyze the Data
If you are conducting an experiment or survey, be sure to vip the data properly. Ensure all of your methods are ethically sound - if you are surveying people, get permission, and do not connect data with the individual, and report findings anonymously.
Analyze your findings and report results using visual representations, such as charts or graphs or statistical tests (even the very basic ones). Are there trends, patterns, etc. You should compare the findings to what you expected.
Step 5: Share Your Results
And now for the exciting part—sharing your research! Your school may mandate a specific form for sharing (e.g. a formal research paper or presentation), but here are some additional options:
You could:
Write a research paper.
Create a PowerPoint presentation.
Produce a video or infographic.
Develop a website or blog.
Be sure to detail the following:
Your research question and what makes it important.
How you did your research.
What you found.
What it might mean for gamers, developers, or educators.
Step 6: Reflect and Level Up
After you share your project, take some time to reflect:
What did you learn about gaming, and your learning process?
Were you surprised by anything?
If you had the opportunity to expand on this research, what would you do?
Maybe you will want to present your discoveries at a science fair, begin a gaming club, or become involved in the gaming world as part of your life's work in game development, psychology, or digital media.
Bonus Tips for Success
Keep organized: Record your sources and your information.
Be creative: Use infographics, game play clips or interactive components to help make yours unique.
Seek feedback: Contact teachers, friends or online communities that share your passion to gather input.
Have fun: This is your passion—enjoy it.
Examples from Real Life
There are both positive and negative examples on the topic with regards to gaming:
Cognitive Benefits of Gaming: One student decided to test others in their class, to see if being always on my action games actually meant something to their attention and memory.
Esports Team and Teamwork: Another student surveyed their fellow members of the school's esports club, and evaluated how being gamers impacted their teamwork skills.
Game Design for education: One student leveraging their gaming passion created an educational game in the hopes of helping fellow classmates study for exams, evaluating its effectiveness afterwards.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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