Delić, Lucija.
(2015).
Complex reaction time of gamers and non - gamers while using focused and divided attention.
Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology.
[mentor Vranić, Andrea].
Abstract
The goal of this study was to examine the differences in complex reaction time between non-gamers and hardcore gamers in tasks demanding focused and divided attention. A special software measuring the choice reaction time in milliseconds and error rate was designed for that purpose. The instrument was validated using the d2 Test of attention and finally applied on a sample of 30 gamers and 31 non-gamers with a 2x2 quasi-experimental factorial design. The subjects were recruited by snowball sampling and categorised using a questionnaire which surveyed their gaming habits. The expected difference in favour of gamers was assumed according to earlier studies regarding the effect of video games on cognitive processes. Results of this study have shown that gamers indeed have significantly shorter reaction times to visual stimuli than non-gamers in tasks that require the use of focused attention, but also in a divided attention task. Despite the expectations, statistically significant interaction between the group affiliation and the type of attention used in the task was not found. Gamers maintained their shorter reaction times even while engaging in an additional task, but the decrease in their performance was not significantly smaller than that of non-gamers.
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