Date
10-14-2026
Department
School of Communication and the Arts
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Strategic Media (PhD)
Chair
Erin Black
Keywords
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, MMORPGs, digital communication interactions, perceived social connectedness, media ecology theory, Generation Z
Disciplines
Communication
Recommended Citation
Bentley, Brian, "A Quantitative Study of the Relationship Between Media Ecology Theory, Video Game Engagement, and Digital Communication Patterns Among College Students" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 9024.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/9024
Abstract
This quantitative correlational/predictive study examined the relationship between college students' Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games participation, their digital communication interactions, and perceived social connectedness, using media ecology theory as a theoretical framework. A total of 171 students participated. After data screening, analyses were conducted on samples ranging from 151 to 160 participants, depending on data completeness. A sample of undergraduate students at one institution in the southeastern United States completed selected portions of the Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale. Spearman's rho was used to examine the relationship between weekly playtime and the frequency of digital communication interactions (RQ1), and multiple linear regression was used to determine whether six in-game and third-party communication modes predicted perceived social connectedness (RQ2). Results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship between weekly playtime and digital communication interaction frequency (rho = .407, p < .001), supporting H1. The regression model was statistically significant [F(6, 144) = 13.29, p < .001, R² = .356, adjusted R² = .330], with Discord text chat (B = .138, β = .214, p = .043) and other voice platforms (B = .157, β = .277, p = .002) emerging as significant individual predictors of perceived social connectedness, supporting H2. Findings suggest that Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games environments function as active communication ecosystems consistent with media ecology theory, with implications for communication scholars and educators studying digital gaming environments.
