Internet

OK, this may seem like an ironic topic to post about online. But there is a paper published this year, that discusses What are the consequences of Internet usage and video games on risky behavior? This paper differs from my previous analysis, simply because the writers of the paper are addressing a scholarly audience. The choice of this audience is such because the writers needed to use statistics to show a point, and scholars have the best amount of knowledge to interpret statistics As such, the paper uses almost solely statistics to prove that video games are correlated with negative self worth and risky behaviors.

Statistical scientific papers are an interesting element of prose in that the paper initially has to assume there is no effect, until they do a study. This paper has to persuade us to believe the result of the study is correct, rather than taking a side independent of the study.

In this paper, the researchers started by reviewing past research on internet and video game usage, an attempt to show their results will be consistent with other people who have studied these issues. This is an appeal to logic, as a good logical mechanism is to build on common knowledge. This building on common knowledge allows the results of the study to be more clear. This is typical of a paper.

The researchers then explain their study, and the methods they said. They stated who they surveyed, and the kinds of questions that were asked for the survey. They explained where their sample comes from, in order to give credibility to their report.

They then of course present their results and analysis of the conclusion of the survey... They find that video games are indeed associated with poor relationships, as the main conclusion.

This paper is mostly effective for its audience. Most of its efforts is for convincing that their study is valid and consistent with past information given, but it makes things more helpful for those who read it.