Study title

Social Dimension of the Online Role-Playing Game World of Warcraft 2013-2014

Dataset ID Number

FSD3103

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3103

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Laaksamo, Ossi-Matti (University of Lapland. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Linnakangas, Ritva (University of Lapland. Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Silén, Marianne (University of Lapland. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Abstract

The survey studied the time use of the players of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft (WoW), and the social dimension of the gaming community. The data were collected for a Master's thesis.

The respondents were first asked how many hours per day they played WoW or other similar games, how many hours they spent on active gaming sessions (raids etc.), on how many days per week they played, how long they had played WoW or other MMORPGs, and how long they had been a member of their guild (in-game association of player characters).

The respondents were also asked whether they played WoW or other MMORPGs mostly as a single player or with other players, what their reasons for playing MMORPGs were, and why they thought other people played them. With regard to the social dimension of WoW and MMORPGs, the respondents were presented a number of statements charting, among others, the significance of friends and relationships "in game", the possibility of in-game relationships developing into real-life relationships, teamwork and related skills, and opinions on the rules and activities of the guild.

Finally, the respondents were asked about their opinions on their gaming hobby as well as their views of MMORPGs and gaming communities from a general and the society's point of view.

Background variables included the respondent's age and gender.

Keywords

computers; digital games; internet; leisure time activities; online communities; social networks

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Information technology (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Time use (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Laaksamo, Ossi-Matti (University of Lapland. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Time Period Covered

2013

Collection Dates

2013-10 – 2013-11

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged 18 or older who played World of Warcraft and were members of Finnish guilds

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Respondent-assisted

Four Finnish World of Warcraft guilds were, for the most part, randomly selected through a search engine. The guildmaster or another member of each guild relayed the invitation to participate in the survey to other members.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The archived data does not contain the open-ended questions that were part of the original data.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Laaksamo, Ossi-Matti (University of Lapland) & Linnakangas, Ritva (University of Lapland) & Silén, Marianne (University of Lapland): Social Dimension of the Online Role-Playing Game World of Warcraft 2013-2014 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2017-08-17). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3103

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Laaksamo, Ossi-Matti (2014). Verkkoroolipelaaminen ja sosialisaatio. World of Warcraft -pelit osakulttuurisena toimintana sosialisaation näkökulmasta. Rovaniemi: Lapin yliopisto. Sosiaalityön pro gradu -tutkielma. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:ula-201406161272

Turtiainen, Veera (2020) Verkkopeli sosiaalisena vuorovaikutusympäristönä - Sosiaalinen pääoma MMORPG World of Warcraftissa. Rovaniemi: Lapin yliopisto. Yhteiskuntatieteiden kandidaatintutkielma.