Fear of (Serious) Digital Games and Game-Based Learning?

Digital games and their power as a tool for acquiring knowledge, training skills and changing behavior are – for some laymen – associated with rather negative concepts, and are thought to pose a general health risk. This paper shortly reviews and evaluates the scientific evidence for both positive and negative outcomes. It describes how particularly the negative effects are portrayed by the mass media and perceived by the general public and educators (especially in Germany). The conclusion is that negative effects such as addiction or personality changes towards aggression have been exaggerated in size, and that the positive effects and outcomes like their use as educational tools are at risk of being widely ignored. Additionally, the paper reports upon observations in a university lecture on the effects of violent digital games in which students could engage in a positive, healthy and enjoyable experience of learning with digital games.

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State of play in direct-to-consumer genetic testing for lifestyle-related diseases: market, marketing content, user experiences and regulation

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665112002960 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 53-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Paula Saukko

Keyword(s):

Genetic Testing ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Online Marketing ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Genetic Tests ◽

The Public ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Direct To Consumer ◽

Genetics Research ◽

Lifestyle Related Diseases

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests have aroused controversy. Critics have argued many of the tests are not backed by scientific evidence, misguide their customers and should be regulated more stringently. Proponents suggest that finding out genetic susceptibilities for diseases could encourage healthier behaviours and makes the results of genetics research available to the public. This paper reviews the state of play in DTC genetic testing, focusing on tests identifying susceptibilities for lifestyle-related diseases. It will start with mapping the market for the tests. The paper will review (1) research on the content of the online marketing of DTC tests, (2) studies on the effects of DTC genetic tests on customers and (3) academic and policy proposals on how to regulate the tests. Current studies suggest that the marketing of DTC genetic tests often exaggerates their predictive powers, which could misguide consumers. However, research indicates that the tests do not seem to have major negative effects (worry and confusion) but neither do they engender positive effects (lifestyle change) on current users. Research on regulation of the tests has most commonly suggested regulating the marketing claims of the companies. In conclusion, the risks and benefits of DTC genetic tests are less significant than what has been predicted by critics and proponents, which will be argued reflects broader historical trends transforming health and medicine.

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Twenty-Five Years of Research on Violence in Digital Games and Aggression

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000147 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 33-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Malte Elson ◽

Christopher J. Ferguson

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

General Public ◽

Scientific Community ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Digital Games ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Public Health Crisis ◽

Analytical Research ◽

The Impact

Violence in digital games has been a source of controversy in the scientific community and general public. Over two decades of research have examined this issue. However, much of this research has been undercut by methodological limitations and ideological statements that go beyond what scientific evidence could support. We review 25 years of experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal, and meta-analytical research in this field. Empirical evidence regarding the impact of violent digital games on player aggression is, at best, mixed and cannot support unambiguous claims that such games are harmful or represent a public health crisis. Rather, indulgence in such claims risked damage to the credibility of games effects research, credibility which can only be restored through better empirical research and more conservative and careful statements by scholars. We encourage the field to engage in a responsible dialog and constructive debate that could continue to be enriching and invigorating.

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Undesirable Effects of Goal Setting on Perceived Fairness, Commitment, and Unethical Behavior

Zeitschrift für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie A&O ◽

10.1026/0932-4089/a000267 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 97-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nina Keith

Keyword(s):

Goal Setting ◽

Unethical Behavior ◽

The United States ◽

Goal Commitment ◽

Management Technique ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Perceived Fairness ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

And Performance

Abstract. The positive effects of goal setting on motivation and performance are among the most established findings of industrial–organizational psychology. Accordingly, goal setting is a common management technique. Lately, however, potential negative effects of goal-setting, for example, on unethical behavior, are increasingly being discussed. This research replicates and extends a laboratory experiment conducted in the United States. In one of three goal conditions (do-your-best goals, consistently high goals, increasingly high goals), 101 participants worked on a search task in five rounds. Half of them (transparency yes/no) were informed at the outset about goal development. We did not find the expected effects on unethical behavior but medium-to-large effects on subjective variables: Perceived fairness of goals and goal commitment were least favorable in the increasing-goal condition, particularly in later goal rounds. Results indicate that when designing goal-setting interventions, organizations may consider potential undesirable long-term effects.

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Mobilizing for Some

Journal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications ◽

10.1027/1864-1105/a000199 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 123-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Raffael Heiss ◽

Jörg Matthes

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Social Media ◽

High School Students ◽

Experimental Design ◽

Collective Efficacy ◽

Political Efficacy ◽

Negative Effects ◽

School Students ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Specific Factors

Abstract. This study investigated the effects of politicians’ nonparticipatory and participatory Facebook posts on young people’s political efficacy – a key determinant of political participation. We employed an experimental design, using a sample of N = 125 high school students (15–20 years). Participants either saw a Facebook profile with no posts (control condition), nonparticipatory posts, or participatory posts. While nonparticipatory posts did not affect participants’ political efficacy, participatory posts exerted distinct effects. For those high in trait evaluations of the politician presented in the stimulus material or low in political cynicism, we found significant positive effects on external and collective efficacy. By contrast, for those low in trait evaluations or high in cynicism, we found significant negative effects on external and collective efficacy. We did not find any effects on internal efficacy. The importance of content-specific factors and individual predispositions in assessing the influence of social media use on participation is discussed.

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On the diversity of the effects of the state support for agriculture

Voprosy Ekonomiki ◽

10.32609/0042-8736-2019-4-59-73 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 59-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nikolai M. Svetlov ◽

Renata G. Yanbykh ◽

Dariya A. Loginova

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Production ◽

The State ◽

Russian Regions ◽

Negative Effects ◽

State Support ◽

Soft Budget Constraints ◽

Institutional Conditions ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Production Factors ◽

Corporate Farms

In this paper, we assess the effects of agricultural state support of corporate farms on their revenues from agricultural production sales in 14 Russian regions that differ in technology, environment and institutional conditions. In addition to the direct effect of the state support, the indirect effects via labor and capital are revealed. For this purpose, we identify production functions and statistical models of production factors for each of these regions separately. We find out diverse effects of the state support on revenues among the regions. Positive effects prevail. Negative effects are mainly caused by labor reductions that follow subsidy inflows. Another cause of negative effects is the soft budget constraints phenomenon.

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MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPOSES OF COW PEA (CV. PUSA BARSATI) GROWN ON FLY ASH AMENDED SOIL IN PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF MELOIDOGYNE JAVANICA AND RHIZOBIUM LEGUMINOSARUM

Ecoprint An International Journal of Ecology ◽

10.3126/eco.v17i0.4098 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 17-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kamal Singh ◽

A. A. Khan ◽

Iram Khan ◽

Rose Rizvi ◽

M. Saquib

Keyword(s):

Fly Ash ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Rhizobium Leguminosarum ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Maximum Growth ◽

Meloidogyne Javanica ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Insignificant Difference

Plant growth, yield, pigment and protein content of cow-pea were increased significantly at lower levels (20 and 40%) of fly ash but reverse was true at higher levels (80 and 100%). Soil amended by 60% fly ash could cause suppression in growth and yield in respect to 40% fly ash treated cow-pea plants but former was found at par with control (fly ash untreated plants). Maximum growth occurred in plants grown in soil amended with 40% fly ash. Nitrogen content of cow-pea was suppressed progressively in increasing levels of fly ash. Moreover, Rhizobium leguminosarum influenced the growth and yield positively but Meloidogyne javanica caused opposite effects particularly at 20 and 40% fly ash levels. The positive effects of R. leguminosarum were marked by M. javanica at initial levels. However, at 80 and 100% fly ash levels, the positive and negative effects of R. leguminosarum and/or M. javanica did not appear as insignificant difference persist among such treatments.Key words: Meloidogyne javanica; Rhizobium leguminosarum; Fly ash; Growth; YieldDOI: 10.3126/eco.v17i0.4098Ecoprint An International Journal of Ecology Vol. 17, 2010 Page: 17-22 Uploaded date: 28 December, 2010

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Remedies in BRICS Countries

10.1093/oso/9780198810674.003.0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Svetlana Avdasheva ◽

Tatiana Radchenko

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Division Of Labor ◽

Market Performance ◽

International Division ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Managerial Decisions ◽

Brics Countries ◽

Target Company ◽

Specific Position

Within the group of BRICS, China, Russia, and South Africa use conduct remedies more often than developed jurisdictions. Remedies are applied under merger approval or as an outcome of investigation of anticompetitive conducts. Effects of conduct remedies on companies’ decisions and market performance still need explanation. This chapter explains the use of conduct remedies, with special emphasis on Russia, by the specific position of BRICS in international division of labor, which allows the large companies, and first of all domestic ones, to discriminate customers in BRICS home markets, vis-à-vis international customers. Together with positive effects on domestic customers, competition economics predicts the possibility of negative effects of remedies on the managerial decisions within the target company. Under some circumstances, remedies may even weaken competition in the global product markets.

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The Experiences of Grief and Personal Growth in University Students: A Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041899 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1899

Author(s):

Jovita Tan ◽

Karl Andriessen

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Emerging Adults ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Continuing Bonds ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Supportive Services ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Formal Services

Background: Experiencing the death of a close person, especially in emerging adults and students, can have profound effects on the bereaved individual’s life. As most research in this field has focused on negative effects of a loss, little is known about potential positive effects experienced by bereaved university students. This study investigated the experience of grief and personal growth in a sample of students from The University of Melbourne, Australia. Methods: Semi-structured interviews via Zoom/telephone with bereaved students (n = 14), who were invited to reflect on their loss and any personal growth potentially experienced. Thematic analysis of the data was based on a deductive and inductive approach. Results: The analysis identified four themes: (i) sharing of grief as a coping mechanism, (ii) balance between grief reactions and moving forward in life, (iii) lessons learned and personal growth, and (iv) adopting values from the deceased person and continuing bonds. Conclusions: Participants emphasized personal growth regarding self-perception and philosophical views on life. Following the loss, they preferred peer support, and used formal services only when they had a specific need. The findings indicate the importance of social support for bereaved students, and the complimentary role of peer and professional support. Hence, academic institutions should offer supportive services tailored to both students and professionals to help bereaved students.

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Minimal Effects, Maximum Panic: Social Media and Democracy in Latin America

Social Media + Society ◽

10.1177/2056305120984452 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 205630512098445

Author(s):

Eugenia Mitchelstein ◽

Mora Matassi ◽

Pablo J. Boczkowski

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Latin America ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Hate Speech ◽

De Novo ◽

Electronic Government ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Common Denominator ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Positive Effects

In face of public discourses about the negative effects that social media might have on democracy in Latin America, this article provides a qualitative assessment of existing scholarship about the uses, actors, and effects of platforms for democratic life. Our findings suggest that, first, campaigning, collective action, and electronic government are the main political uses of platforms. Second, politicians and office holders, social movements, news producers, and citizens are the main actors who utilize them for political purposes. Third, there are two main positive effects of these platforms for the democratic process—enabling social engagement and information diffusion—and two main negative ones—the presence of disinformation, and the spread of extremism and hate speech. A common denominator across positive and negative effects is that platforms appear to have minimal effects that amplify pre-existing patterns rather than create them de novo.

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