Slot Machine Study Seeking Participants
My name is Cara McKinstry and I am currently undertaking my Master in Clinical Psychology at the University of New England, NSW, Australia under the supervision of Dr Gavin Clark and Dr Adam Rock. As part of my research, we have decided to do a project on slot-machine gambling behaviour and the underlying mechanism of mental imagery to find out how it promotes problematic poker-machine behaviour. This will help us better understand problematic slot-machine gambling and improve the active targets of psychological treatment.
The online survey requires respondents to answer some questions to do with their gambling behaviour, is completely anonymous and has been approved by the ethics committee at the University of New England. We are looking for people that whose preferred mode of gambling is a slot machine.
We would be really grateful if you could participate, as the study will hopefully lead to increased funding for gambling research as well as increased knowledge surrounding therapies for gamblers. The survey should only take 25 minutes to complete and can be viewed here:
(see link in following post)
Thank you in advance
Kind regards, Cara McKinstry.
Information Sheet for Participants
Quote: rsactuaryWhy does this ring a bell????? I swear we've seen a post like this before.
Yes you are right. These posts seem to come up a few times a year.
Ya, that seems a bit long.Quote: SM77725 minutes?!
OP. Do we get any free play incentives for completing it?
Someone has to figure out how to better hook gamblers each year.Quote: vegasYes you are right. These posts seem to come up a few times a year.
Thanks so much to everyone that has already participated. The survey is still open so if you haven't had a chance to participate yet there is still time. Your help will go a long way to further the research into the link between mental imagery and slot machine gambling and would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again guys!
I also didn't understand a few questions, such as:
Quote:"When you typically imagine yourself gambling and you hold the image in your mind, what type of emotion is the image?"
How can an image be an emotion? I just went right in the middle with that because that question has no meaning to me.
I also don't tend to imagine myself gambling...I'm either gambling at a given time or I am not.
It also asks this:
Quote:Whilst watching the video, when you imagined yourself gambling, from what perspective did you view this image?
How am I supposed to imagine myself gambling while watching the video? I thought I was supposed to be watching the video. If you want me to be imagining myself gambling, then tell me to imagine myself gambling!
The 1-100 scales also need lower options than 1 to indicate something is conceivable, but extremely unlikely. 1 seems like 1%, but in my mind, technically a better answer than 0.
That particular question is asking about emotion attached to the image. Research has indicated that it is rare that we imagined an image in our mind without attaching an emotional state and meaning. It it also interesting that you don't imagine yourself gambling as mental imagery has been show to increase urge to gamble.
Again thanks for taking the time to participate I appreciate it!
Quote: cmckinstryThanks so much for participating Mission146.
That particular question is asking about emotion attached to the image. Research has indicated that it is rare that we imagined an image in our mind without attaching an emotional state and meaning. It it also interesting that you don't imagine yourself gambling as mental imagery has been show to increase urge to gamble.
Again thanks for taking the time to participate I appreciate it!
You're welcome, I hope my answers don't mess up the data set.
I don't think I would have imagined myself gambling while watching the video in any set of circumstances, but I was mainly trying to pay attention because I expected to be asked specific questions about the video. (Two women, one man, parlor as opposed to a casino, nobody was smoking, about twelve machines in that room, door opening on the right which was to the right of the women and the left of the man on the opposite side who was as interested in talking on his phone as gambling...four or five of the machines were progressives...cream colored walls) that sort of stuff.
Anyway, I'm sorry, I didn't understand what the video was supposed to make me do so my answers probably suck.
Quote: Mission146You're welcome, I hope my answers don't mess up the data set.
I don't think I would have imagined myself gambling while watching the video in any set of circumstances, but I was mainly trying to pay attention because I expected to be asked specific questions about the video. (Two women, one man, parlor as opposed to a casino, nobody was smoking, about twelve machines in that room, door opening on the right which was to the right of the women and the left of the man on the opposite side who was as interested in talking on his phone as gambling...four or five of the machines were progressives...cream colored walls) that sort of stuff.
Anyway, I'm sorry, I didn't understand what the video was supposed to make me do so my answers probably suck.
Did you see those minors over $700? Must be a exchange rate thing.
Quote: Mission146You're welcome, I hope my answers don't mess up the data set.
Plenty of testing isn't about what you're told it is about anyway. Not saying this is the case here, but also isn't uncommon either. They don't want the guinea pig to ruin the test by knowing what is actually being looked at.
I’m interested to know whether or not the creators of this are aware that:
1) There is a subset of gamblers that are playing at a legitimate advantage over the casino
2) A large percentage of this forum falls into that subset
and
3) Whether the data gathered from those types of players is useful to what they are studying
Quote: gamerfreakI started the survey but stopped after several questions because they all seemed to be geared towards someone who is addicted to gambling, which I am not.
I’m interested to know whether or not the creators of this are aware that:
1) There is a subset of gamblers that are playing at a legitimate advantage over the casino
2) A large percentage of this forum falls into that subset
and
3) Whether the data gathered from those types of players is useful to what they are studying
Hi gamerfreak, I know it may seem like the questions are geared towards those addicted but the questions are just trying to determine where along the continuum of gambling different participants sit and how their experience of gambling differ. We are aware that not everyone who gambles is addicted. Data from anyone who has ever played slot-machines would be helpful, so feel free to return to the survey and complete your responses as the survey allows you to exit it and return to complete it at a later time. Thanks for the feedback
Quote: rxwinePlenty of testing isn't about what you're told it is about anyway. Not saying this is the case here, but also isn't uncommon either. They don't want the guinea pig to ruin the test by knowing what is actually being looked at.
I agree with you rxwine that a number of studies cannot fully inform you about what they are studying as this may influence the results. This is however not the case here, we are in fact looking at mental imagery and gambling behaviour, and all participants are fully informed about the study.
This is the last week the survey will be open guys and I am still in need of participants! If you have the time please follow the link above. I will be hugely appreciative!!
Thank you!
Quote: cmckinstry* Final call for participants*
This is the last week the survey will be open guys and I am still in need of participants! If you have the time please follow the link above. I will be hugely appreciative!!
Thank you!
Fortunately (for you), I have absolutely nothing going on today, so I did your study.
My only comment is that the video of people playing slot machines is hard for me to identify with, because I don't like video slot machines in general (there are only two I'll play), and the slot machines people were playing were the ones I hate the most. But I answered the questions following it anyway but imagining myself playing Quit Hit Platinum.
Quote: KevinAA
My only comment is that the video of people playing slot machines is hard for me to identify with, because I don't like video slot machines in general (there are only two I'll play), and the slot machines people were playing were the ones I hate the most. But I answered the questions following it anyway but imagining myself playing Quit Hit Platinum.
What's the other game?
Quote: prozemaWhat's the other game?
lock it link
