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Biomedical subjects

Mark Dickerson

Publications and source records attributed to Mark Dickerson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Definition and measurement of chasing in off-course betting and gaming machine play.

The attempt to recover gambling losses by continuing to gamble ('chasing') has featured prominently in accounts of excessive gambling. This research represents the first attempt to operationalize and measure chasing in terms of its cognitive (behavioral intention), emotive (urges) and behavioral components, and to investigate the role of chasing in relation to impaired control over gambling. Two survey samples of 84 male off-course (betting shop) race gamblers (mean age 41, SD = 15) and 137 gaming machine players (73 females, mean age 48, SD = 15 and 64 males, mean age 43, SD = 16) were recruited at gambling venues. Respondents completed a structured questionnaire that investigated retrospective report of chasing and an impaired control scale ("The Scale of Gambling Choices"). It was found that the various components of chasing formed a composite measure with high internal reliability that was strongly related to indicators of excessive gambling (e.g. time spent gambling, expenditure as a proportion of income) and to impaired control scores. Reacting to large wins by further betting was almost as strongly related to impaired control as was persistence after losing. Those who returned later to chase had significantly higher impaired control scores than those who only chased within a session. Alcohol-related chasing was associated with impaired control over gambling. Chasing of losses and impaired control appear to be generic processes in evidence across both forms of gambling and gender (most format and sex differences were of minor significance).

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Attentional bias and addictive behaviour: automaticity in a gambling-specific modified Stroop task.

AIMS: This study examined the relationship between attention and gambling behaviour by measuring the level of Stroop interference towards gambling-related words in a group of regular poker machine players. DESIGN: A 3 x 2 repeated measures experimental design was employed. The type of word presented (neutral, drug or gambling) was the within-subjects factor and the level of impaired control (high or low) over gambling behaviour was the between-subjects factor. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of poker machine players (n = 60), varying in their frequency of play, were split into two groups based on their level of subjective impaired control over their gambling behaviour (high or low). MEASUREMENTS: A computerized gambling-specific modified version of the Stroop task was used to assess response latencies. The test comprised three word categories: gambling, drug and neutral. The Scale of Gambling Choices (SGC) was used to assess participants' level of impaired control over gambling behaviour. FINDINGS: It was found that the participants who had difficulty in controlling their gambling behaviour (the low control group) took significantly longer to name the colour of the words relating to poker machine gambling, whereas those who had good control over their gambling behaviour (the high control group) did not show any significant differences across the three word categories. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the previous finding that people with a problem behaviour or emotion take longer to colour-name words relating to the area of their concern. The current study extends previous work that has investigated the role of cognitive distortions and biases in the area of addictive behaviour. The current study confirms McCusker & Gettings's findings, but by avoiding the mental disorder conceptualization facilitates theoretical understanding of addictive behaviour. Implications for past models and theories of the Stroop as well as future research directions are discussed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Impaired control over gambling in gaming machine and off-course gamblers.

AIM: To investigate and compare subjectively reported impaired control in two forms of gambling: off-course Totalizator Agency Board (TAB) horse/dog racing and electronic gaming machines (EGMs). Additionally, gender differences in EGM play were investigated. DESIGN: A survey sample of 84 male TAB gamblers and 137 EGM players (73 females and 64 males) was recruited at gambling sites. SETTING: Hotels and clubs in Adelaide, South Australia, were used as recruiting venues. Interviews were either conducted on site if there was sufficient privacy, or relocated to nearby cafes. PARTICIPANTS: The inclusion criteria were gambling at least weekly and being over the age of 18. Female off-course gamblers were not approached given their scarcity. MEASUREMENTS: A general gambling involvement questionnaire was devised from pilot research. Impaired control was measured using a shortened version of The Scale of Gambling Choices. FINDINGS: Impaired control over gambling has a robust factor structure, with little difference between EGM and TAB gamblers. Concurrent validity for the impaired control measure was demonstrated against measures of gambling involvement. CONCLUSION: Impaired control appears to be, in the main, a generic process across these two forms of gambling and for both sexes. Further refinement and application of the concept of impaired control to excessive gambling seems warranted given its strong face, construct and concurrent validity.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Alcohol Consumption and Self-Control of Gambling Behaviour.

This paper reports the results of a preliminary investigation into whether the drinking of alcohol contributes to impaired control of gambling behaviour. The sampling method consisted of a two-phase survey design, collecting data both prospectively 'within session' and retrospectively via a take-home questionnaire. One hundred sixteen people were interviewed while in a gaming venue playing on an electronic gaming machine (egm) of whom 34 men and 11 women also returned take-home surveys. Comparisons of the sample to previous studies suggested that the sample was representative of the population of egm players. Results indicated a consistent theme of alcohol use contributing significantly to impaired control of gambling behaviour, with level of involvement (Corless & Dickerson, 1989) contributing the most significant variance in the independent variables. Limitations of the study are discussed, but the case is argued that this type of 'process' research is essential in better understanding how these two types of popular leisure activities may interact, possibly leading to the previously recorded chronic, excessive alcohol intake and problematic gambling (e.g. McCormick, Russo, Ramirez & Taber, 1984).

Journal Article↗