What playing Minecraft tells researchers about social learning
What playing Minecraft tells researchers about social learning
What playing Minecraft tells researchers about social learning
Regina G. Barber, Emily Kwong, Juana Summers, Rachel Carlson, Erika Ryan
May, 2, 2025
Summary
A recent study led by cognitive scientist Charley Wu used the video game Minecraft to explore how individual and social learning interact. Over 100 participants played customized scenarios where rewards were either clustered or random, influencing their tendency to learn from others. Wu’s team built a computer model to analyze players’ decisions and found that social and individual learning amplify each other. Adaptive players who switched strategies performed best. The research offers a new lens on learning and demonstrates video games' potential as experimental tools. Cognitive scientist Natalia Vélez praised the study’s innovative approach and relevance to modern social behavior.
Reference
Barber, R. G., Kwong, E., Summers, J., Carlson, R., & Ryan, E. (2025, May 2). What playing Minecraft tells researchers about social learning. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/05/02/1248664738/minecraft-brain-psychology-video-game-social-learning