Developmental differences at play: Children's selective attention and performance in video games

This study investigated developmental differences in children's performance on a popular video game. Second- and fifth-graders played a video game for ten minutes and then were asked questions about the game features that they paid attention to while playing, and about specific game and attention strategies that they would recommend to a novice player. Older children and children identified as frequent players showed better performance. Post-game responses also indicated developmental differences in references to game features, strategies, and evaluative assessments. Younger children focused more on evaluative assessments. Older children, by comparison, focused more on specific goals for game play, and such a focus predicted better task performance. This study begins to provide additional insight into children's goals and motivation for learning in the context of intrinsically motivating tasks and the implications of that motivation For attention and performance.