As MMORPGGs creep into mainstream culture they are becoming a valuable place to conduct scientific research on social systems and behaviors. Are certain MMORPGGs as addictive as cocaine? Do certain MMORPGG gamers use these games to escape from real life or stay more connected? Do certain MMORPGG gamers make better citizens? These are just some of the recent questions being asked by academics around the world.
An fascinating and informative paper titled Playing a Good Game: Ethical Issues in Researching MMORPGGs and Virtual Worlds has just been published in the International Journal of Internet Research Ethics. The paper examines a number of ethical issues encountered when researching MMORPGGs and virtual worlds. What should be considered public or private in these spaces? What can researchers study, record, and reproduce without informed consent or permission? Should researchers simply observe or actively participate in the online community/ies they are studying?
Related Articles
