Developing Decision-Making Skill: Experiential Learning in Computer Games

Literature Review

With the average massively multi-player online game player spending more than 20 hours per week in the game (Yee, 2006), games seem to have ever more profound effects on individuals: they also teach lessons in leadership. In their ground-breaking study into the opinions and values of gamers, Beck and Wade (2004a, p. 3) found that gamers have the potential to become great leaders through the continuous seeking of opportunity and improvement. Most early academic research, though, focused on possible negative effects, like social isolation, or the reduction of inhibitions and resulting increase in violent behaviours. Sherman (as cited in Beck & Wade, 2004b) points out, however, that following the introduction of violent electronic games in the U.S., a significant reduction in juvenile violence occurred and newer research has shown the positive learning effects that games have.