Gaming and Homework

Recently, researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a study to observe some of the effects of excessive gaming. The researchers wanted to find out how time spent playing video games affected the time teens spent doing other things.

The news was good and bad. The study seemed to suggest that teens who spent time gaming with friends and family also spent time socializing with friends and family in other ways. That’s probably a good thing. Teens need social interaction and support.

The alarming news is that teens seem to be carving their gaming time out of their homework time. The report says that “kids who played video games spent 30 percent less time reading and 34 percent less time doing homework.”

This seems to clear up the apparent link between excessive gaming and poor academic achievement.

If you would like to conduct your own study to see how gaming might be affecting your social life and your academic success, you can use the method that the university researchers used. Simply keep track of your activities with a task diary and record everything you do for several days. Be sure to record everything! You’ll be surprised to see how you spend your time.