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THE STUDY

Are you an adult player of The Sims who uses mature-rated mods? We need your insights for a study at Fielding Graduate University! This research explores why players choose mods that add mature-rated/adult-oriented content, such as violence, substance use, explicit interactions, abusive relationships, or other serious scenarios. Your participation will help us better understand player psychology, video game aggression, ethical game design among many other things!Key Definition: Mature-Rated Mods
Mature-rated mods introduce content or gameplay meant for adults, such as:
violence (e.g., physical confrontations, attacks, torture), substance use (e.g., alcohol or drug-related activities), explicit content (e.g., detailed romantic or sexual interactions, polyamory, power imbalances), abusive relationships (e.g., emotional or physical abuse), and other mature scenarios (e.g., theft, cheating, betrayal, addiction, poverty, mental health struggles, serious illnesses, grief).Why Participate?
1. The results of this study may influence future games and modding communities.
2. You get to share your unique gaming perspective in just 28 minutes.
3. You get to contribute to discussions on player psychology and game design ethics.
4. You may win a $100 gift card!Key Information
- Eligibility: Adults (18+) who actively play The Sims and use mature-rated mods.
- Participation: Voluntary—you can withdraw anytime without consequence.
- Privacy: Your responses are confidential, securely stored, and used only for research.
- Ethics: Approved by Fielding Graduate University’s Institutional Review Board, ensuring fair and ethical treatment.Before starting, you’ll be asked to provide consent to confirm you are eligible, understand your rights as a participant, and that you agree to participate.What to Expect
This fully online survey takes about 28 minutes and includes:
1. Informed Consent & Confidentiality Agreement (3 minutes): Learn about the study and your rights.
2. Demographic Survey (1.5 minutes): Share basic info like age and gaming experience.
3. Standardized Scales (19-24 minutes): Answer questions about your psychological needs, personality, aggression, and The Sims gameplay.
4. Debriefing (2 minutes): Review the study’s goals and access mental health resources if needed.

Q: Who can join?
A: Adults (18+) who play The Sims and use mods with mature content, like violence, substance use, or material for older players.
Q: How long will it take?
A: About 28 minutes to finish the online survey.
Q: Are my answers safe?
A: Yes, they’re kept private, stored securely, and used only for this study.
Q: Can I stop if I want?
A: Of course! You can quit anytime without penalty.
Q: How does the raffle work?
A: You get one entry just for joining and another if you complete the survey. We’ll pick a winner randomly once the study wraps up. You must provide an email to be entered. This email will also be used to contact you if you are the winner of the raffle.

COURTNIE PARSONS, PhD CANDIDATE, RESEARCHER

Courtnie is a PhD candidate at Fielding Graduate University, specializing in player psychology and the effects of video game modifications, with her research study "Power Over Pixels" exploring violence, aggression, and ethical considerations in game design. She currently holds an MA and MS, and has a strong background in psychology and gaming, with experience in research and academia, contributing to discussions on how mature-rated content influences player behavior. Her current work involves an online survey targeting active The Sims players who regularly use mature-rated mods (modifications), aiming to enhance the understanding of psychological impacts and ethical game design through data collected on personality traits, aggression, and gameplay engagement.

Have questions? Feel free to get in touch:
Email: [email protected]

ANDREAS MILES-NOVELO, PhD, SUPERVISOR

Dr. Andreas Miles-Novelo is a core faculty member in the Media Psychology program at Fielding Graduate University, where he focuses on the psychological impacts of media and technology. He earned his PhD in Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction from Iowa State University in 2022, researching climate change, aggression, virtual reality, and media effects. His notable work includes co-authoring a book on how climate change influences human aggression and violence, contributing to discussions on environmental and technological impacts on behavior.

Thank you for participating in the "Power Over Pixels" study! Your insights are incredibly important in helping us understand why The Sims players choose mature-rated mods.Study Purpose Reiteration
This study explored why some The Sims players use mature-rated mods. We examined how personality, sense of control, skills, connections with others, and reasons for playing connect to these choices.
Your responses will contribute to discussions on player psychology, video game aggression, behaviors introduced by mature-rated mods, and ethical considerations in game design. Thank you for helping shape the future of gaming research!Mental Health Resources
If the survey raised any difficult feelings, these free, confidential resources are available:
1. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (24/7 support)
2. Crisis Text Line: Text "HELLO" to 741741 (text-based support)
3. SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (mental health and substance use support)
4. Online Chat: 7 Cups (free chats with trained listeners)
5. Find Help: Psychology Today (search for local counselors)Your well-being is important, and these options are here if you need them.Contact Information
Have questions or want to learn about our findings?Reach out:
Courtnie Parsons
Email: [email protected]