Study: Video Games Slightly Hinder GPA Scores

A new study examining the correlation between study time and GPA scores found that video games (or any other extra-curricular activity) can slightly reduce grade performance.

The study, which didn't intend to prove anything about video games, found that first-year students with regular access to a video game console studied 40 minutes less each day on average. As a result, GPA scores slightly dropped by six percent (0.241 points lower on a 4.0 grade scale) according to the National Bureau of Economic Research which conducted the research.

"Everyone knows that studying must matter to some extent, but we just don't know how much it matters relative to other things such as college entrance exam scores," said researcher Todd Stinebrickner who examined 210 college students for a full year. "This study shows that it matters quite a lot."

Stinebrickner added that the findings don't mean students should avoid distractions such as video games. In fact, extra-curricular activities resulting in increased enjoyment can actually boost an individual's grade performance he says.