A new study conducted by researchers from Missouri University of Science and Technology based on a survey found on surveysites.com reveals the astonishing impact of Blizzard's popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft on a person's daily, real-time life. Now, many stereotypes would probably expect it to be inclined to the negative side but the truth is, it's the other way around. In fact, it can even help a person find actual jobs and be more productive within their tasks. Here's why.
World of Warcraft has been around for more than a decade now and it has cemented its name as one of the best MMORPG to date - becoming a passing memory to those that are familiar with this genre. However, it's undeniable that for the most part, it has been criticized as something that can degrade one's success in life - oftentimes labeled as "a waste of time." However, a recent study reveals that in truth, a lot of elements in World of Warcraft affect the real-life productivity of a person and that, it even increase the chances of a person landing an actual job.
According to Elizabeth Short, a graduate of industrial/organizational psychology and the one who compiled the data, there is a correlation between a gamer's WoW group achievements and a player's traits - pointing out that they've found a strong "technical readiness" from the subjects.
"The more technologically ready you are, the more resilient around the technology you are, the more adaptable you are, the more achievement points you have (in WoW). You could flip that," she says. "The more achievements you have in the game, the more technology savvy you are in real life. And that's a good thing, especially in virtual communication teams and workplaces," she added.
Short also relayed her personal experience with the research, stressing how World of Warcraft boosted her communication skills and social confidence. According to Short, by the time she started college, she was able to communicate better - all because she played WoW.
The team, led by Dr. Nathan Weidner, will be presenting their research findings at the 32nd annual Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference in Orlando. Short and her team hopes that their research study will help gamers, especially World of Warcraft players, to convert their in-game proficiency into real world career.
