Gun Shot WoundNCT03445156
Effect of Violent First-Person Shooter (FPS) Video Games on Shooting Accuracy
A study testing Video game in people with Gun Shot Wound, run by Ohio State University.
Trial summary
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 The Experiment Proper is an exact replication of a previous study conducted in our lab that was retracted (see citation), but with a larger sample… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 46 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Gun Shot Wound
- What is being tested?
- Video game
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 327 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2016to 25 Apr 2016
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 46 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 and older
- Ohio State participant pool
Who cannot join
- Under age 18
About this study
Official 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
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 The Experiment Proper is an exact replication of a previous study conducted in our lab that was retracted (see citation), but with a larger sample to get more reliable results (N=287 rather than N=151).
Read the detailed description
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.
- Conditions
- Gun Shot Wound
- Being tested
- Video game, Controller
- Keywords
- First-person shooter (FPS), Violent video game, Headshot, Gun, Operant conditioning theory
- Medical subject headings
- Wounds, Gunshot
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Video gameBehavioural
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.
ControllerBehavioural
Participants used either a gun-shaped or regular controller to play the violent and nonviolent shooting video games.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot Study | Experimental | After giving their consent, participants completed a survey. Next, they were randomly assigned to play either a violent First-Person-Shooter video game or a nonviolent shooting video game for 20 minutes. Video game play was recorded. A debriefing followed. Receives: Behavioral: Video game; Behavioral: Controller |
| Experiment Proper | Experimental | After giving their consent, participants completed a survey. Next, they were randomly assigned to play either a violent First-Person-Shooter video game, a nonviolent shooting video game, or a nonviolent non-shooting video game for 20 minutes. Next, they shot a training pistol at a mannequin 20 feet (6.1 meters) away using 16 Velcro "bullets." A debriefing followed. Receives: Behavioral: Video game; Behavioral: Controller |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Hits to Head and Face
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.
Measured: Up to one hour
Other Hits
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).
Measured: Up to one hour
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Feb 2018
- Study start1 Feb 2016
- Primary completion25 Apr 2016
- Study completion25 Apr 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Gun Shot WoundStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ohio State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 2 (controller type) x 3 (video game type) factorial design. Participants used either a regular or gun shaped controller while playing a non-shooting, non-humanoid shooting, or humanoid shooting game.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 327 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Brad Bushman, Ohio State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03445156
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2010B0261
- Status last verified
- Jun 2019
- First submitted
- 20 Feb 2018
- Last updated
- 5 Aug 2019
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: After the manuscript is accepted, data will be uploaded to Figshare.com
Publications
Whitaker, J. L., & Bushman, B. J. (2014). "Boom, Headshot!": Effect of violent video game play and controller type on firing aim and accuracy. Communication Research, 41(7), 879-891. doi:10.1177/0093650212446622
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Aug 2019. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official 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
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03445156
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2010B0261
- Conditions
- Gun Shot Wound
- Keywords
- First-person shooter (FPS), Violent video game, Headshot, Gun, Operant conditioning theory
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 327 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Apr 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- 25 Apr 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Feb 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 5 Aug 2019
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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).
Detailed description
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- 2 (controller type) x 3 (video game type) factorial design. Participants used either a regular or gun shaped controller while playing a non-shooting, non-humanoid shooting, or humanoid shooting game.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot Study | Experimental | Behavioral: Video game, Behavioral: ControllerAfter giving their consent, participants completed a survey. Next, they were randomly assigned to play either a violent First-Person-Shooter video game or a nonviolent shooting video game for 20 minutes. Video game play was recorded. A debriefing followed. |
| Experiment Proper | Experimental | Behavioral: Video game, Behavioral: ControllerAfter giving their consent, participants completed a survey. Next, they were randomly assigned to play either a violent First-Person-Shooter video game, a nonviolent shooting video game, or a nonviolent non-shooting video game for 20 minutes. Next, they shot a training pistol at a mannequin 20 feet (6.1 meters) away using 16 Velcro "bullets." A debriefing followed. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 46 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 18 and older
- Ohio State participant pool
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Under age 18
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Video gameParticipants 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. | Behavioural | Experiment Proper, Pilot Study |
| ControllerParticipants used either a gun-shaped or regular controller to play the violent and nonviolent shooting video games. | Behavioural | Experiment Proper, Pilot Study |
Primary outcome
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).
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Aug 2019.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- BackgroundWhitaker, J. L., & Bushman, B. J. (2014). "Boom, Headshot!": Effect of violent video game play and controller type on firing aim and accuracy. Communication Research, 41(7), 879-891. doi:10.1177/0093650212446622
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. After the manuscript is accepted, data will be uploaded to Figshare.com
Related trials for Gun Shot Wound
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Gun Shot Wound
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Video game in people with Gun Shot Wound, run by Ohio State University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Aug 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 5 Aug 2019). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Hits to Head and Face (time frame: Up to one hour). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03445156, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Aug 2019.