conducting an independent research about game addiction

<p>My roommate is an intensive gamer with probably 8 hours at least spent on computers on a daily basis. He is thus a perfect sample for my research (social behaviour, habbit, eating, sleeping pattern). </p>

<p>He is showing many symptoms of game addiction. </p>

<p>I have a question however as his problem is quite unique. While addicted to computer games, he also plays GO online(an Asian board game highly intelligent) sometimes devoting 10 hours a day. Board game is good for the brain. But he definitely overplays it.</p>

<p>I wonder if I should count his board game hours into my graphing variables. Or shall I seperate computer game hours graph and board game hours graph?</p>

<p>And last ques, can anyone offer any advice for him? I want to help him while doing my research. He is on academic probation.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Board game is good for the brain.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Not really.</p>

<p>Scientific</a> American: The Expert Mind</p>

<p>==

[quote]
I wonder if I should count his board game hours into my graphing variables. Or shall I seperate computer game hours graph and board game hours graph?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Why not include both graphs?</p>

<p>You could probably combine them. They do have the same effects (on him). Most importantly you can't exhaust them. there are probably more possible games of go than there are seconds in the universe.</p>

<p>there isn't really a fundamental difference between computer games and board games - it's just that computer games are easier to get addicted to by a large segment of the population that plays them.</p>

<p>
[quote]
And last ques, can anyone offer any advice for him? I want to help him while doing my research. He is on academic probation.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Take fewer classes, do ANYTHING to get out of academic probation. SERIOUSLY. If he's kicked out, his ONLY choice is to go to community college.</p>

<p>Depending on what game he's playing, it might not be that different intellectually from a board game. If he's playing a team game such as first person shooters or real time strategy games then there is a lot more critical thinking, teamwork, and strategy than someone who doesn't play the game would know about. I'm guessing he just plays World of Warcraft though, which I guess can encourage teamwork and strategy depending on the person.</p>