Key Dimensions of Contemporary Video Game Literacy: Towards A Normative Model of the Competent Digital Gamer

Recent developments in digital games technology, economy, and content have further expanded the popularity of the medium. At the same time, requirements for competent gaming or digital game literacy need to be reconsidered in the light of the rapid evolution of digital games. The paper outlines three important dimensions of contemporary video game literacy: (1) Resilience against effects of game content on automatic cognition (such as stereotypes and aggressive thinking), (2) the ability to cope with social affordances of multiplayer games, and (3) the ability to manage inertia processes in playing motivation that result in a perceived risk of losing investments of time and effort when deciding against playing. Finally, the importance to substantiate game literacy concepts with scientific theory and empirical research is articulated

Key Dimensions of Contemporary Video Game Literacy: Towards A Normative Model of the Competent Digital Gamer

Recent developments in digital games technology, economy, and content have further expanded the popularity of the medium. At the same time, requirements for competent gaming or digital game literacy need to be reconsidered in the light of the rapid evolution of digital games. The paper outlines three important dimensions of contemporary video game literacy: (1) Resilience against effects of game content on automatic cognition (such as stereotypes and aggressive thinking), (2) the ability to cope with social affordances of multiplayer games, and (3) the ability to manage inertia processes in playing motivation that result in a perceived risk of losing investments of time and effort when deciding against playing. Finally, the importance to substantiate game literacy concepts with scientific theory and empirical research is articulated

Family involvement in the context of chronic diseases: The role of social support in treatment decision-making for surgical procedures

If medical decision-making about complex treatment options (such as surgical procedures) is challenging for patients, family members can provide them with advice and health information. Previous research about family involvement in health communication has largely focused on cancer patients. Thus, it lacks an examination of family involvement in surgery decision-making in the context of non-life-threatening chronic diseases like arthrosis. In particular, we focus on the role of social support for family involvement in these situations. Against this background, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with arthrosis patients and their family members (n = 32 patients; n = 8 relatives). To better understand family involvement in surgery decision-making, three research questions were analyzed: (1) What are the perceived characteristics of the arthroplasty decisional process? (2) Which patterns of family involvement exist with regard to social support? (3) What general circumstances are relevant for family involvement? Our results demonstrate that social support plays an important role in the patterns of family decision-making. Instrumental, emotional, and informational support can indirectly enhance family involvement in decision-making. In addition, relatives are also directly involved in decision-making processes and may instigate the decision. The type of family involvement is influenced by characteristics of the decision-making situation. In addition to personal factors and the relationship with the physician, which is perceived as less supportive, the need for familial decisional support intensifies.Besonders wenn medizinische Entscheidungen zu komplexen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten (wie operativen Eingriffen) von den Patienten als Herausforderung wahrgenommen werden, können Familienmitglieder sie mit Rat und Gesundheitsinformationen unterstützen. Die bisherige Forschung hat sich größtenteils auf die Beteiligung von Familienmitgliedern in der Gesundheitskommunikation bei Krebserkrankungen fokussiert. Daher mangelt es an Untersuchungen, die die Familienbeteiligung bei nicht-lebensbedrohlichen chronischen Krankheiten wie Arthrose betrachten. Wir fokussieren im Besonderen die Rolle der sozialen Unterstützung für die Beteiligung von Familienangehörigen in solchen Situationen. Vor diesem Hintergrund, haben wir qualitative Leitfadeninterviews mit Arthrose-Patienten und ihren Familienmitgliedern durchgeführt (n = 32 Patienten; n = 8 Angehörige). Um die Beteiligung von Angehörigen bei medizinischen Entscheidungen besser zu verstehen, wurden drei Fragestellungen analysiert: (1) Was sind die wahrgenommenen Eigenschaften der Entscheidungssituation für die Implantation einer Endoprothese? (2) Welche Muster der der familiären Beteiligung existieren hinsichtlich der sozialen Unterstützungsfunktionen? (3) Welche generellen Rahmenbedingungen sind relevant für die Beteiligung der Familienmitglieder? Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die soziale Unterstützung eine wichtige Rolle für die Beteiligung der Familienmitglieder an medizinischen Entscheidungen spielt. Instrumentelle, emotionale und informationelle Unterstützung können die Beteiligung indirekt erhöhen. Außerdem sind die Familienmitglieder auch direkt am Entscheidungsprozess beteiligt und initiieren die Entscheidungsfindung. Die Art der Beteiligung wird durch Merkmale der Entscheidungssituation beeinflusst. Neben Eigenschaften der Personen, spielt hierbei die Beziehung zum Arzt eine wichtige Rolle. Diese wird teilweise als wenig unterstützend wahrgenommen, was den Bedarf der Patienten an Unterstützung durch die Familienangehörigen erhöht

The effects of social norms among peer groups on risk behavior: A multilevel approach to differentiate perceived and collective norms

Social norms have been found to be an important factor in individuals’ health and risk behaviors. Past research has typically addressed which social norms individuals perceive in their social environments (e.g., in their peer group). The present article explores normative social influences beyond such perceptions by applying a multilevel approach and differentiating between perceived norms at the individual level and collective norms at the group level. Data on norms and three road traffic risk behaviors (speeding, driving after drinking, and texting while driving) were obtained from a representative survey among young German car drivers (N = 311 anchor respondents) and their peer groups (overall N = 1,244). Multilevel modeling (MLM) revealed that beyond individual normative perceptions of peers’ behavior and approval, actual collective norms (peers’ actual risk behavior and attitudes) affect individuals’ risk behaviors. Findings are discussed with regard to theorizing normative influences on risk behavior and practical implications

Permanently online and permanently connected : development and validation of the Online Vigilance Scale

Smartphones and other mobile devices have fundamentally changed patterns of Internet use in everyday life by making online access constantly available. The present paper offers a theoretical explication and empirical assessment of the concept of online vigilance, referring to users’ permanent cognitive orientation towards online content and communication as well as their disposition to exploit these options constantly. Based on four studies, a validated and reliable self-report measure of online vigilance was developed. In combination, the results suggest that the Online Vigilance Scale (OVS) shows a stable factor structure in various contexts and user populations and provides future work in communication, psychology, and other social sciences with a new measure of the individual cognitive orientation towards ubiquitous online communication

Permanently online and permanently connected: Development and validation of the Online Vigilance Scale

Smartphones and other mobile devices have fundamentally changed patterns of Internet use in everyday life by making online access constantly available. The present paper offers a theoretical explication and empirical assessment of the concept of online vigilance, referring to users' permanent cognitive orientation towards online content and communication as well as their disposition to exploit these options constantly. Based on four studies, a validated and reliable self-report measure of online vigilance was developed. In combination, the results suggest that the Online Vigilance Scale (OVS) shows a stable factor structure in various contexts and user populations and provides future work in communication, psychology, and other social sciences with a new measure of the individual cognitive orientation towards ubiquitous online communication

A process model of the formation of spatial presence experiences

In order to bridge interdisciplinary differences in Presence research and to establish connections between Presence and “older” concepts of psychology and communication, a theoretical model of the formation of Spatial Presence is proposed. It is applicable to the exposure to different media and intended to unify the existing efforts to develop a theory of Presence. The model includes assumptions about attention allocation, mental models, and involvement, and considers the role of media factors and user characteristics as well, thus incorporating much previous work. It is argued that a commonly accepted model of Spatial Presence is the only solution to secure further progress within the international, interdisciplinary and multiple-paradigm community of Presence research

Computerspiele: Gewaltige Gefahren, riesige Chancen

„Wir machen uns Sorgen gerade wegen der Beliebtheit von Computerspielen: Über gewalthaltige Titel wird kontrovers diskutiert, und neuerdings finden sich Warnungen vor ‚Computerspielsucht’, dem überbordenden Gebrauch von Spielen mit negativen Folgen für das restliche Leben. Auf der anderen Seite neigen wir dazu, die Tatsache zu marginalisieren, dass Computerspiele einzigartige Chancen für die moderne Gesellschaft bieten“, so Christoph Klimmt. Sein Vortrag zur Eröffnung der Ringvorlesung will genau diese Chancen stärker ins Bewusstsein rücken. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei das Wohlbefinden von Kindern, Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen durch den Spielspaß, neue Wege im alltäglichen Dialog zwischen den Generationen durch gemeinsames „Gaming“, neue Möglichkeiten für Lehren und Lernen („game-based learning“) und schließlich die Langzeitperspektive einer neuen kulturell-gesellschaftlichen Facette – das Selbstmachen und Mitmachen, das die Interaktivität von Computerspielen fordert und fördert. „Am Ende soll ein ausgewogener Blick auf das Medium ‚Computerspiel’ stehen, der sorgfältig die Probleme bedenkt, aber auch offen ist für die positiven Konsequenzen, die mit ihrer weiten Verbreitung und intensiven Nutzung einhergehen“