Video Game Hypothesis At the end of this semester, you will propose an experiment that tests a hypothesis about video game effects. This proposal represents your chance to do a "deep dive" on a particular video game topic of interest to you. For the current assignment, you are tasked with proposing a video game hypothesis that you'd like to investigate this semester. Your hypothesis should be one sentence, and it should include the following three components: 1. You should specify an independent variable (IV) focused on video games. The IV should mention both a treatment group and a control group, and it should reflect one of the following categories (see Week 3 lectures): a. A video game genre For example: action; MMORPGS; exergames; sports games; prosocial games; sandbox games; puzzle games; educational games; etc. b. A video game feature For example: male vs. female character; realistic vs. fantasy character; sexualized vs. non-sexualized character; high vs. low difficulty; sound on vs. off; bloodshed on vs. off; hero vs. villain character; moral vs. immoral actions; classic vs. motion controller; White vs. Black character; first-person view vs. third-person view; etc. c. A gameplay context For example: alone vs. with others; cooperative vs. competitive; with friends vs. with family; 20 min vs. 60 min; etc. 2. You should specify a dependent variable (DV) that you think might be influenced by gameplay. Your DV should reflect one of the following categories: a. A particular attitude or belief . For example: self-esteem; body satisfaction; motivation; knowledge; racial attitudes; sexual attitudes; relationship satisfaction; relationship commitment; autonomy; competence; relatedness; etc. b. A particular emotion For example: happiness; anger; frustration; prosocial affect; aggressive affect; enjoyment; entertainment; inspiration; emotionally moved; interest; awe; elevation; etc. c. A particular behavior . For example: prosocial behavior, exercise; walking; voting; academic performance; friendship formation; conversation quality; etc. 3. You should specify the hypothesized relationship between the IV and the DV using directional language a. For example: the IV will increase/decrease the DV; the IV will promote/inhibit the DV; the IV will produce more/less of the DV; etc.Here are some examples of properly formatted hypotheses: Playing a violent (vs. prosocial) video game will increase aggressive behavior. Playing a violent video game with a villain (vs. hero) character will increase aggressive behavior. Playing a violent video game competitively (vs. cooperatively) will increase aggressive behavior. Note: Because this course is heavily focused on violent video game research, you should not use "violent video games" as your IV or "aggressive behavior" as your DV. These examples are intended to help you format your own hypothesis on a different video game effect. The proposal assignments are your opportunity to learn more about a video game effect that is of interest to you. You are not limited to the examples provided on this assignment sheet, which are intended to help you brainstorm. Be as creative as you'd like, and have fun with it