Study title

Health and Digital Gaming: Gamer Interviews 2021

Dataset ID Number

FSD3678

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3678

Data Type

Qualitative

Authors

• Siutila, Miia (University of Turku)
• Karhulahti, Veli-Matti (University of Jyväskylä)
• Korhonen, Venla (University of Jyväskylä)
• Laitinen, Tanja (University of Jyväskylä)

Abstract

The dataset consists of interview transcripts with people who spend a lot of time playing video games. The interviewees are selected from two different target groups. The first group consists of people who have sought help for compulsive gaming, and the second groups consists of people who play video games competitively for at least 30 hours a week. The dataset is part of a follow-up study.

First, the interviewees were asked to describe how they started digital gaming. The interviewees were also asked about their career, family, and friends. Next, they were asked to describe what a normal day or week of digital gaming was like for them and to describe in as much detail as possible one digital gaming experience from the previous month. Additionally, the interviews included questions about the interviewees' other hobbies and their satisfaction with their current job. In relation to gaming, the interviewees were asked whether they felt that they spent too much time playing digital games.

Background information included, among others, the interviewee's gender, information on which interviewee group the interviewee was part of, and the date of the interview. The data were organised into an easy to use HTML version at FSD.

The dataset is available only in Finnish.

Keywords

addiction; compulsive gaming; digital games; electronic sports; internet addiction; interpersonal relationships; leisure time activities; social skills

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Medical and health sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Information society (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Social behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (D) available only by permission from the data depositor/creator.

Data Collector

• Siutila, Miia (University of Turku)
• Karhulahti, Veli-Matti (University of Jyväskylä)

Funders

• Finnish Work Environment Fund (200349)
• Academy of Finland (312397)

Collection Dates

2021-01-07 – 2021-12-31

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People seeking help for compulsive gaming and people who play eSports games for at least 30 hours a week

Time Method

Longitudinal: Cohort/Event-based

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Purposive

Interviewees were recruited using an open invitation. In the first group, the invitation was distributed through operators who provide help for compulsive gaming. In the second group, in addition to the open invitation, the social media channels of Kanaliiga, Pappaliiga and Gamers United were used.

Collection Mode

Web-based interview (The interviews were conducted via Zoom.)

Research Instrument

Interview scheme and/or themes (The interviews were conducted using the Phenomenology of Play interview scheme. Both interviewers took turns asking questions.)

Data Files

16 interviews in ODT file format. Additionally, the data were organised into an easy to use HTML version and a CSV version.

Data File Language

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

Qualitative data are available in their original language only and are not translated.

Data Version

1.0

Related Datasets

FSD3673 Digital Gaming, Work and Health Survey 2022

FSD3685 Health and Digital Gaming: Expert Interviews 2021

FSD3689 Digital Gaming, Work and Health Survey 2021

FSD3798 Health and Digital Gaming: Follow-up Gamer Interviews 2022

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The researcher has anonymised the data by removing direct identifiers (e.g. names) and indirect identifiers (e.g. locations, exact ages, detailed information concerning occupation and education). Additional anonymisations to the data were made at FSD, and one interview was fully anonymised. Changes made at FSD are marked with [[double square brackets]].

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

Siutila, Miia (University of Turku) & Karhulahti, Veli-Matti (University of Jyväskylä) & Korhonen, Venla (University of Jyväskylä) & Laitinen, Tanja (University of Jyväskylä): Health and Digital Gaming: Gamer Interviews 2021 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2023-05-03). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3678

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

Karhulahti, V. M., Siutila, M., Vahlo, J., & Koskimaa, R. (2022). Phenomenological strands for gaming disorder and esports play: a qualitative registered report. Collabra: Psychology, 8(1), 38819. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.38819

Karhulahti, Veli-Matti; Siutila, Miia; Vahlo, Jukka; Koskimaa, Raine. Life Thinning and Gaming Disorder: A Longitudinal Qualitative Registered Report. Peer Community Journal, Volume 3 (2023), article no. e83.