Email Updates RSS
Search
"Competitive and Professional Gaming: Discussing Potential Benefits of Scientific Study" featured for open access

Nerds are Crushing the Competition

By IGI Global on Aug 4, 2014
Computer nerds have always been considered smart, but smart has not always been cool. In school, athletes have traditionally been thought of as the popular kids, often bullying and making fun of their less agile classmates. Athletes have more opportunities in the social structure and networking strength of a team, along with the possibilities of scholarships or eventually being drafted to play at a good school. And though sports will continue to thrive, in today’s computer-focused world, colleges and universities are looking past traditional competition on the field, and seeking individuals competing behind the keyboard.

Nerds Are Crushing The Competition According to a 2011 report from the International Telecommunication Union, over 71% of households worldwide have a personal computer. Computers are useful if not absolutely necessary in most lives, and the computer nerds of the past are no longer a minority. Computer science professions are now one of the most sought-after and highest paying jobs, and this demand is creating new opportunities for students interested in computers and more specifically, computer gaming.

The Independent recently published an article entitled “Nerds are the new jocks,” discussing scholarship programs that are becoming available to young gamers. Instead of athletic scholarships, Robert Morris University, a private college in Chicago, has set aside a total budget of approximately $450,000, offering athletics scholarships to skilled players of the online battle game League of Legends. The school’s associate athletics director, Kurt Melcher, told the Chicago Tribune that the video game is “a team sport. There’s strategy involved. You have to know your role in the game. Obviously it’s not cardiovascular in any way, but it’s mental. There are elements that go into it that are just like any other sport.”

The IGI Global article, “Competitive and Professional Gaming: Discussing Potential Benefits of Scientific Study,” from the International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning (IJCBPL), examines the lifestyles and successes of competitive gamers. This article “increases our knowledge of gaming and yields useful information about extreme or excessive involvement in digital technology. Studying the most successful competitive gamers, who appear to develop exceptional skills, are highly beneficial. Suggestions for research are provided.” This article, written by Kyle Faust (Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL, USA), Joseph Meyer (University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA) and Mark D. Griffiths (International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK), is currently being offered for open access for the month of August. Click here to read the full article “Competitive and Professional Gaming: Discussing Potential Benefits of Scientific Study.” This paper is one of the many research articles featured in the International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning on the subject of computer gaming and computer careers.

The International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning (IJCBPL) offers a forum for academic exchange of new ideas and research findings related to psychological aspects and serves as a vehicle for promoting techniques and methodologies derived from rigorous research and practices that use psychological and cognitive principles to design and develop cyber learning. Indexed by SCOPUS, INSPEC, PsycINFO, and DBLP, to name a few, this journal focuses on cyber behavior, psychology, and learning, encouraging the exploration of emerging areas in cyber learning such as online social communication, individual differences, cognitive and metacognitive learning, etc. to generate deep understanding about the behavior, information processing, and psychological orientations of online learners.

This article is one of the thousands available on IGI Global's InfoSci®-OnDemand, which allows full-text searching through our entire collection of thousands of research articles, book chapters, and teaching cases. Refer to the previous link for additional information, or contact cust@igi-global.com. Some of IGI Global’s other publications discussing gaming and computer technologies include the following:


Browse for more posts in:
Computer Science and Information TechnologyEducationSoftwareComputational IntelligenceComputational LinguisticsComputer EngineeringGamingVirtual CommunitiesVirtual Learning EnvironmentsWeb-Based Teaching & LearningArticlesInfoSci-JournalsJournalsReviews & IndexingEuropeFree ContentNorth AmericaAuthor NewsResources for InstructorsResources for LibrariansResources for Researchers

No comments Comments

Log in or sign up to comment.
Be the first to comment!

More from IGI Global

Apr 18, 2024 Uniting Nations with Multinational Electronic Health Records to Stop Lassa Fever's Pandemic Threat!
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for containment measures.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesHealthcare Information SystemsBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 16, 2024 IGI Global Announces the 2024 Journal Reviewers Award Winners
IGI Global congratulates the winners of this year's Journal Reviewer Award
IGI GlobalRead More
JournalsAwards & RecognitionOpen Access
Apr 15, 2024 What Defines Authorship and Who Should Be Included in a Manuscript’s Byline?
For decades, academic publishing has been plagued with discrepancies surrounding authorship of scholarly research...
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAcquisitions
Apr 15, 2024 Doody’s Selects IGI Global Books for Special Topics List
Two IGI Global publications have been recognized by Doody's for their excellence and niche topic focus.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesMedia and CommunicationsBooks & E-BooksAwards & Recognition
Apr 11, 2024 Technology is Making Disparities Worse
Digital Inclusion Week underscored the urgent need for a national digital equity plan in the US due to disparities in internet access and digital skills.
IGI GlobalRead More
Apr 8, 2024 Nearly 90% of IGI Global’s Frontlist Books Now Indexed in Scopus
The majority of IGI Global's books Frontlist is now indexed by Scopus. Learn what this prestigious recognition means for the publisher and the experts behind these books.
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAwards & RecognitionReviews & Indexing
Apr 4, 2024 Navigating Neglected Maintenance and Safety Risks of Flight Travel
A United Airlines Flight 837 bound for Tokyo from San Francisco could not take off due to a mechanical issue.
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologyScience & EngineeringHospitality, Travel & Tourism ManagementAerospace EngineeringBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 3, 2024 Introducing the New IGI Book Topic Brochures
IGI Global is excited to introduce a new initiative to provide detailed insights into various fascinating subjects. Our brochures offer a comprehensive overview of timely publications covering the latest research topics...
IGI GlobalRead More
EducationBusiness and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologySocial Sciences and HumanitiesBooks & E-Books
Apr 3, 2024 Interview with a Global Guru in Education
Hear from Dr. Velliaris, who was voted as a Top 30 Global Guru in Education.
EducationBooks & E-BooksInterviewAuthor News
Mar 29, 2024 Cocoa Prices Skyrocket
Cocoa prices surging to $10,000 per metric ton challenge chocolate manufacturers and consumers, risking supply chain stability and higher retail prices...
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementEnvironmental, Agricultural, and Physical SciencesSustainable DevelopmentBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  ... Next Last