ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A researcher at the University of Minnesota is part of a team of social scientists studying leadership and other characteristics in an unlikely place.

In fact, it's no place at all. It's the virtual fantasy world of EverQuest II, an online multiplayer role-playing game where players take on roles, form teams and slay monsters.

University of Minnesota computer science professor Jaideep Srivastava is part of a multi-year, multi-million dollar project funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army.

He says it has the potential to advance social science research in the way that gene sequencing has transformed biology.

Sony Online Entertainment removed the real-life names of the players then provided three years of play data to the researchers.

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Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com

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