Issues of demographics can manifest anywhere, sometimes even in such unexpected areas as video games. A particular image of a protagonist that reflects an ideological default often appears on the stage of choosing a playable character in those games. Researchers from Temple University conducted a corresponding study, and this paper evaluates the validity of their findings. The findings are valid as the authors provide a thorough analysis of the subject and empirical evidence supporting their claims.
The ideological default mentioned above usually involves white people, especially white men. However, the findings of Kukshinov & Shaw (2022) suggest that white male gamers do not seek self-representation, which is why they do not choose game characters based on their race or gender. These findings seem valid from the critical viewpoint since there is enough evidence in the article to prove the authors’ position. The first strength of the study that contributes to the findings’ validity is the research methodology which utilizes an experimental online survey (Kukshinov & Shaw, 2022). In other words, the article’s authors have added empirical evidence to their theoretical research by asking real people about their preferences in choosing in-game characters. Another point demonstrating the validity of the study results is the thorough analysis of different video games. The article analyzes many gaming projects to see what choices related to playable characters gamers usually have (Kukshinov & Shaw, 2022). These strengths illustrate that the authors have collected enough data to make their findings valid.
Overall, a thorough analysis of the problem and practical evidence demonstrate the validity of the article’s findings. Firstly, the authors provide results of the online survey showing the decision-making process of white people when they choose an in-game character. Secondly, the article presents information about different games, demonstrating what choices they offer and how they can contribute to the ideological default of modern demographics. The evidence presented in the paper is credible and scientifically supported, which is why the article’s findings seem valid.
Reference
Kukshinov, E., & Shaw, A. (2022). Playing with privilege: Examining demographics in choosing player-characters in video games. Psychology of Popular Media, 11(1), 90.