Stereotypes In Video Games

Methodology #1: Survey
Behm-Morawitz, E. (2014). Cultivating Virtual Stereotypes?: The Impact of Video Game Play on Racial/Ethnic Stereotypes. The Howard Journal of Communications, 1-15.
This study uses the survey method to find if video games play a role in how people stereotype other races. The introduction talks about conducting the research on white, male college students. It states that playing video games more may contribute to how white males believe the stereotypes of blacks and Asians. Throughout the article it becomes clear that the video game industry depicts black males and Asians a certain way in all of their games and that is what makes it easier for white males to stereotype in the real world.
Hypothesis
If white, male college

students play video games constantly, then they are more likely to believe the stereotypes about blacks and Asians.
Research Questions
1. How does playing a video game increase the stereotyping of a race
2. Why do video games portray blacks as criminals and Asians as ninjas in all their games
Reliability
One of the studies that did a similar investigation, and tested a specific type of video game instead of all video games. The “William Study” focused on a violent video game a person had to play to conduct their research. This study used a survey study by asking men questions about how much they played video games and other questions about how they view people in the real world. The result of this study was that people who played a violent video game, would believe that happens in the game, could happen in real life. Another study that researched how playing video games can increase prejudice is the “Deskins: Stereotypes in Video Games” study. This study also came to the conclusion that playing video games and seeing how players are portrayed in the game, can increase prejudice towards a race or ethnic group. One last study that researched video games and stereotypes was the “Gillentine” study and this study was based on the perception players have on people in the real world when compared to playing on the game. This study used men that never played video games, played it once or play it on a daily basis. The conclusion of this study was that they noticed that there was players being stereotyped and that their perceptions went outside of just the game but into the real world. When it comes to reliability, there is three different studies that researched video games, prejudice, and stereotypes. The results of all three survey studies showed that playing video games does indeed increase prejudice, whether you play video games all the time or every once in a while.
Validity
Reading through the article and other studies, there were multiple investigations going on. When checking for validity, all studies led to one conclusion. The conclusion was that playing video games can have an impact on your life in a good and bad way. Certain games such as educational games can have a good impact on our life and it can have a bad impact by a person stereotyping, engaging in violent behavior or speeding. The problem with these studies is that the survey they conducted doesn’t represent every guy that plays video games. Not everyone stereotypes or has prejudice against a race or ethnic group and concluding that guys who play video games.
Internally, there were differences in all the investigations. The results were different because they used different techniques. For example, the type of games they used to conduct their research. Externally, the tests were given to white males who are the majority. It also focuses on real life situations such as people stereotyping others.
Methodology #2 (Content Analysis)
Beasley, B.

(2002). Shirts vs. Skins: Clothing as an Indicator of Gender Role Stereotyping in Video Games. Mass Communication & Society, 279-293
In the shirt vs. skins study, they use content analysis as their method. Content analysis methodology is used to determine the meaning and the purpose of communication. This research showed how women are perceived in video games. They used the Nintendo 64 and Play station as their game systems to conduct their research. The focus in this study is to prove that the games that are being played on these systems, are stereotyping women. The study researched the number of men in the game and women who were in the game. And lastly, the introduction talks about how women in video games have little clothing on, unlike men who are fully clothed.
Hypothesis
If you’re playing games on the Nintendo 64 and Play Station, and see a woman in little to no clothing, then expect that women are supposed to dress and act a certain way.
Research Questions
1. What type of games depict women as having little clothing
2. Why is it repetitive in games that are mostly played by males

Reliability
Provenzo conducted a study in 1991 that showed how video games portrayed men as mean and aggressive and women as soft who play victim roles.

The research also stated that men had more exciting roles than women in video games. This study is a reliable source because this study revealed that video games do depict women as being inferior, weak and slutty. Another study, the “Dietz” study in 1998 who examined the games that were played on Nintendo 64 and the Sega. They found that a little less than 50% of the games did not have one single woman in them, and if they did they were looked at sexually. The reliability of these studies are shown by the research conducted. Both studies concluded that women are portrayed in video games as sexual beings. Both of the studies shown tables of how guys perceived women in video games and in the real

world.
Validity
Internally there were minor differences in the studies given above. The results of the studies shown that women in video games are shown to have on less clothing than men. Externally, the tests were given to males and females but more males. The research was mainly for men because they usually are the ones who play video games more than anyone. The problem with this is that the study was not done equally between males and females. Maybe women would have had a different opinion or outlook on the game. So it is not valid enough to say that these perceptions of women being seen as sexual or victims is true to all guys who play the game.