Project Title: The effects of gaming platforms on mental, physical and emotional wellbeing

 

Principal Researcher: Dr Steven Trawley

 

Student Researcher: Miss Maria Morcos

 

This is a Plain Language Information Statement (PLIS), which provides you with information about the research project. If while reading this PLIS you no longer wish to participate then please exit your browser.

 

Why is this research being conducted?

There is plenty of research showing both health benefits and costs to playing video games. However, this research typically ignores the physical and/or social element of the games people play. The purpose of this research is to collect this additional information to gain a better understanding of the relationship between video gaming and the physical and psychological wellbeing of the adult gamer.

 

The overall aim is to understand what gaming means for adult gamers and how it relates to their physical, emotional and mental health. We want to know more about when playing games help people and when they don't.

 

In order to answer the above question, this survey has questions on current gaming habits, social groups, physical activity, mood and general background information (e.g., age and gender). Here are some example questions (the first one is about your gaming and the last three are about your mood):

 

Question: Do you feel the need to spend an increasing amount of time engaged in gaming to achieve satisfaction or pleasure?

            Never             Rarely             Sometimes             Often             Very Often

Question: I was aware of the action of my heart in the absence of physical exertion (e.g. sense of heart rate increase).

           Never            Sometimes           Often.           Almost always
 
Question: I found it difficult to work up the initiative to do things.
        Never            Sometimes           Often.           Almost always
 
Question: I felt scared without any good reason.
        Never            Sometimes           Often.           Almost always
 
 

 

Why have I been approached?

Anyone who plays games (at least once per week) and is over the age of 18 years may participate.

 

Possible benefits

This survey is not expected to provide direct benefits to those who participate. However, participation will provide an important contribution to current knowledge on the health benefits and costs of gaming among adult gamers. In turn, information on benefits of gaming may contribute to gaming-based interventions for a variety of disorders (e.g. depression). Alternatively, this study may contribute towards implementing interventions for those who may be struggling with gaming.

 

Possible risks

This survey is not expected to produce any risks. Some negative emotions may arise when answering questions about gaming habits, emotional and physical health. However, it is unlikely that this will pose any risk to your everyday life. If you have any concerns following the completion of this survey, there are free phone counselling services you may access based on your country of residence. You may seek a comprehensive list at mentalhealth.wearespur.com. 
 

Who can I contact if I have any questions?

You can contact the Secretary to the Ethics Committee via email at hrec@cairnmillar.edu.au.

 

If I agree to participate, what will I need to do?

You will need to click on the icon below to progress to the next page. This will lead you to the survey, which will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

 

What will happen to the information I provide?

All information collated will remain non-identifiable and secured on a password protected computer. The principal and student researcher will have access to the information, which will be collected and presented in a research thesis. This could potentially be presented in journal articles or conference papers, however, no participants will be identified in these. The data will be protected and will not be destroyed.  

 

You can exit the survey at any point prior to completion. However, once you’ve submitted your response, you cannot withdraw your responses as they will be deidentified.

This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at The Cairnmillar Institute and will comply with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, 2007).

This survey is completely voluntary. You can withdraw at any time by exiting the survey. However, as you progress through the survey your responses will be saved as you complete each page. This data cannot be deleted as your responses cannot be identified and therefore cannot be removed from the dataset.


If you would like further information, you may contact the principal research, Dr Steven Trawley (details below). If you have any complaints about the project or your participation as a research participant, you may contact the Secretary to the Human Research Ethics Committee (details below).

 

 

Principal researcher

Dr Steven Trawley

The Cairnmillar Institute

391-393 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East 3123

steven.trawley@cairnmillar.edu.au

T: (03) 9813 3400 ext 132

 

HREC Committee

Secretary to the HREC

The Cairnmillar Institute

391-393 Tooronga Road

Hawthorn East 3123 T: (03) 9813 3400 F: (03) 9882 9764

Email: hrec@cairnmillar.edu.au

 

To proceed with the research survey please  click the icon to the bottom right of this page

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