A health and safety manager who participated in the study said his ability to manage and coordinate large groups of people began as a skill in 'World of Warcraft.' — Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash
Massively multiplayer online games have long been the subject of derision from parents and others who see the bustling fantasy-inspired worlds as nothing more than a waste of time.
But a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Houston in the US found that MMO gamers – oft-stereotyped as digital hermits confined to Cheeto-dust laden basements – may actually develop problem solving, leadership and conflict resolution skills that make them better-suited for the workplace than their non-gaming counterparts.
Study shows benefits from online gaming
"Online gaming often gets a bad reputation, but our study reveals a different story. We found that gaming can actually help people develop valuable workplace skills," said Melika Shirmohammadi, assistant professor at the UH Cullen College of Engineering in a Monday release. "Our research shows that gaming, when done in moderation, can be a way for people to grow both personally and professionally."
The study, which was published in Human Resource Development International in early October, examined the self-reported positive impacts of video gaming on 23 participants, 19 men and four women, who were in the top 10% of the MMO games they played. Participants' ages ranged from 20 to 41, and came from an array of professional backgrounds including accounting, finance and engineering.
Researchers found that participants reported positive outcomes across a range of categories, including behavioural and cognitive learning. The study examined the social and problem-solving contexts that define player experiences in many MMO games. One example referenced was World of Warcraft, which pits groups of as many as 40 players against computer-controlled enemies in challenging encounters that require high levels of teamwork.
A health and safety manager who participated in the study said his ability to manage and coordinate large groups of people began as a skill in World of Warcraft.
"I have to act as a mentor and a guide to supervisors and managers, superintendents and all those guys that are in leadership and being able to find out what we need to do and guide them towards that," said the participant, who was not identified. "It stems from... World of Warcraft. For example 'What do we need to do to take down this boss and defeat this guy?' ... and then actually lead those guys, command them and tell them, 'Hey, this is happening, I need you guys to move now,' and that type of thing."
Global tourneys offer millions in prize pools
Outside of a traditional workplace setting, professional video gaming has ballooned in recent years from small grassroots events to global tournaments with multi million-dollar cash pools. In early November, the League of Legends 2024 World Championship ended with a prize pool of more than US$2mil (RM8.94mil).
But while professional gaming may have a bright future, it may be some time before employees log on to their work computers for a round of alien-slaying professional development exercises. With only 23 participants, the vast majority of which were male, the immediate practical applications of UH's findings are limited. Further research and coordination between video game developers and corporate partners will be needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn, according to the study.
"Our research invites scholars and practitioners to revisit existing assumptions about gaming and the negative portrayal of gamers in the workplace," the study reads. "We encourage the developers of MMO games to fulfil their social responsibility to enhance aspects of their games that contribute to learning and minimize characteristics that contribute to overattachment or addiction." – Houston Chronicle/Tribune News Service
