Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to study the significance of creating video game rating system from Iranian parents’ point of view. To study this significance, we studied extensions of governmental mediation in video game reproduction and distribution. We also explored the extent of parental supervision on children video game behavior. Through in-depth interview from 5 parents we extracted common categories of parental mediation pattern, parents’ point of view toward video game rating system, and parents’ point of view toward game effects. Based on extracted common categories and literature in parental studies we surveyed 230 parents. One of main results of this study proves that from Iranian parents’ point of view, it is highly essential to create video game rating system. However, they were also concerned with objectivity during formation of any video game rating system. There is some incongruence between governmental mediation and parents’ expectations to be informed on how to mediate in their children’s video game behavior. Due to lack of various mediation mechanisms in Iran, limiting time spent on games is the most common pattern in parental mediation. Enthusiastic parental category in point of view toward video game rating system is also popular. Most Iranian parents have a negative view toward video game effects on their children. They also believe in the strictest way to prevent all their young children from accessing games with higher age label.
Machine summary:
Compared to other categories related to perspectives on the rating system, the category of parents eager to gain awareness regarding methods of supervising their children's gaming behavior is more common.
Analysis of the relationship between survey data shows that the younger the age of the children, the more parental supervision over children's video game playing and the importance of establishing a rating system increases from their perspective.
The growing trend of game consumption and the lack of access restrictions to video games in Iran, due to the non-observance of exclusive reproduction rights and concerns about the negative effects of games, makes the necessity of identifying the dimensions of parental supervision over children's gaming behavior, as well as studying their views on establishing game rating systems, more apparent than ever.
Research Literature Parental studies1 in Western societies, especially in America where media rating systems have established their positions, show that it is difficult for families to determine, using game ratings, whether video games contain inappropriate content or not (Hanninger and Thompson, 2004; Miller, 2004; Pitofsky, 2000).
Bushman and Cantor (2003), based on a meta-analysis of national surveys, found that parents prefer to use content descriptors of games more than age classifications to select an appropriate game for their children.
Phillips (2000), through a survey of students, studied the effectiveness of parents in supervising and controlling media violence, including video games.
Research Methodology In studying the views of parents as the end consumers of video game rating systems, we employed two research methods: in-depth interviews and surveys.
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