Effect of Violent First-Person Shooter (FPS) Video Games on Shooting Accuracy

The present research tests the effects of violent shooting games on behavior within the game (Pilot Study) and on behavior after the game is turned off (Experiment Proper). The Experiment Proper is an exact replication of a previous study conducted in our lab that was retracted (see citation), but with a larger sample to get more reliable results (N=287 rather than N=151).

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Key information

Conditions

Gun Shot Wound Wounds and Injuries Wounds, Gunshot Wounds, Penetrating

Age range

18 year–46 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Violent shooting games are used to train soldiers and police officers. This research tests whether violent shooting can train people to shoot targets in the head, both during gameplay (Pilot Study) and after the game is turned off (Experiment Proper). Participants in both studies played a violent shooting game with humanoid targets that rewarded headshots, or a nonviolent shooting game that punished shots to bull's-eye targets with faces. Afterward, participants shot at a mannequin with a realistic CO2 gun. We anticipate that participants who play the violent game which rewards headshots to hit the mannequin's head more often than those who play the non-violent game.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

18 and older
Ohio State participant pool

Exclusion criteria

Under age 18

Treatment and study plan

Video game

Behavioral

Participants played either a violent shooting game or nonviolent shooting game in the pilot study, and either either a violent shooting game, nonviolent shooting game, or nonviolent non-shooting game in the experiment proper.

Controller

Behavioral

Participants used either a gun-shaped or regular controller to play the violent and nonviolent shooting video games.

Primary outcomes

Hits to Head and Face

Time frame: Up to one hour

In the Pilot Study, we counted hits to the head and face for targets within the game. In the Experiment Proper, we counted hits to the head and face of the mannequin.
Other Hits

Time frame: Up to one hour

In the Pilot Study, we counted other hits to targets (i.e. not to a face) within the game. In the Experiment Proper, we counted other hits to the mannequin (i.e., torso instead of the head).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ohio State University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

"Boom, Headshot!": Violent First-Person Shooter (FPS) Video Games That Reward Headshots Train Individuals to Aim for the Head When Shooting a Realistic Firearm

Important dates

Study start: 2016
Primary completion: 2016
Study completion: 2016
First posted: Feb 26, 2018
Registry last updated: Aug 5, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed