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Running head: GAMBLING AND LIFE EVENTS

Week 2 Assignment

Ashford University: PSYC 635

Problems in Designing an Experimental Research Study

Melissa Hall

Dr. Goldston

January 31, 2017

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GAMBLING AND LIFE EVENTS

Is there is a relationship between Gambling Issues and Life Events

This study highlights the overall stability in PGSI and life event scores over 2-year follow-

up as well as evidence that greater gambling problem severity predicts more life events, and a

greater number of life events predict more severe gambling problems. These findings call attention

to the importance of social factors when trying to understand risky and problem gambling, and

emphasize the need to integrate these factors within secondary prevention and treatment services.

Research Design

A quantitative research will assist in providing a detail description regarding phenomena by

numerical data gathering using analytical methods that are mathematically based (Muijs, 2011).

The chief purpose of quantitative research is to create an association among an independent and

dependent or conclusion variable in a populace. Several studies have shown that gambling problems

are cyclical but few have empirically investigated factors that are associated with change. The

purpose of this research is to study associations of severe gambling issues and life events in a group

of risk-takers prospectively. The occurrence of life events and gambling problem severity were

assessed three times over a period of approximately 2 years in a group of the non-problem and

problem gamblers. Regression analyses disclosed that important life events in many domains, such

as, difference in sleeping patterns, unintentional harm or ailment or retirement, are typically

associated a time goes on with the escalation of precarious gambling behaviors(Luce, Kairouz,

Nadeau, & Monson, 2016). This studys discoveries on the potentially negative influence of an

increasing number of life events, or of certain ones, are useful for secondary prevention and
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treatment. In this study a correlational research design is appropriate as it measures the association

between two or more variables without making a control on extraneous variables and conclusively

linking these variables.

Prior to collecting the data, sampling is required; this involves when, where and under what

circumstances the observations necessary and who will be observed. Data analysis can be

performed using statistical tests. It depends on the type of variables to be studied. These variables

can be continuous and can change according to the test scores or where the variables can be split

according to classes like gender and age. Most problematic gamblers, defined as those who have

encountered adverse consequences as a consequence of their gambling and who have lost control of

their gambling behavior, tend to experience a nonlinear pattern of movement above or below a

clinical onset.

The sample was chosen from a general population survey led in 2009 with a random sample

of approximately 11,888 respondents, representatives of the noninstitutionalized populace ranging

from the age of 18 and above (Kairouz, Paradis, Nadeau, Hamel, & Robillard, 2015). Only one

person18 years of age and older were choosen at random within each domiciliary. Interviews by

phone were also conducted by use of a computer-assisted telephone interviewing process.

Participants were categorized according to the score they received on the PGSI at the end of the

phone interview. Four groups of gamblers were formed. All of the problem gamblers with PGSI

results of 8 and over, as well as every medium-risk gambler with PGSI results were among 3 and 7.

A unit of 54 randomly sampled non-problem gamblers consented to partake in a follow-up study,

and ended up being requested to take part in the follow-up study (Luce, Kairouz, Nadeau, &

Monson, 2016).The sample was created to ensure that an equivalent number of gamblers that were

medium risk, problem, low-risk and no problem were included. Comparisons revealed that the
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survey sample and the three follow-up samples did not differ significantly in mean PGSI scores or

their proportions of each type of gambler.

The PGSI is acknowledged as for being a dependable tool for establishing categories of

gamblers and has appropriate psychometric properties as well. Life events participants measured

events related to several areas of life with a simple yes or no checklist. The scale measures the level

of a persons stress by summing the number of events reported (Scully, Tosi, & Banning, 2000).

Within the studys results, some life events such as the loss of a love one, divorce, and living

conditions, were not statistically important in spite of previous research that has proven that these

events could be connected with the development or maintenance of problem gambling.

Outside of the involvement of certain life events, the focus here is on the studys primary

finding that an upsurge in stress stemming from cumulative life events drastically influences the

evolution in the severity of gambling problems. The aim of this prospective study is to look closely

at the stability of the seriousness of both problem gambling and life events. The design and

framework of this longitudinal study did not permit for the complete capture of the intricacy of

assigned meanings and personal response to life events, however the discoveries continue to be an

significant contribution to research as it pertains to gambling.

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References

Luce, C., Kairouz, S., Nadeau, L., & Monson, E. (2016). Life events and problem gambling

severity: A prospective study of adult gamblers. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors, 30(8),

922-930. doi:10.1037/adb0000227

Muijs, D. (2004). Doing quantitative research in education: with SPSS. London: Sage Pubs.