The relationship of gambling goals and loss/win conditions to chasing behavior during slot machine play
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Lister, James.
The relationship of gambling goals and loss/win conditions to chasing behavior during slot machine play. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T39P2ZR0
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TitleThe relationship of gambling goals and loss/win conditions to chasing behavior during slot machine play
Date Created2014
Other Date2014-01 (degree)
Extentxiii, 172 p. : ill.
DescriptionThe influence of decision-making processes on risky forms of gambling behavior has been relatively unexplored. One of these processes, goal setting, may be of particular relevance, because many gamblers cite winning money as a primary motivating force for play. This dissertation explored the relationship of goal setting (subjective and objective forms) to chasing behavior. In addition, this study examined for differences in response to loss/win conditions, as well as demographic and dispositional variables. To test this hypothesis, a sample of university students was recruited (N = 121), all of who completed a survey battery and gambled on a virtual reality slot machine. All participants were provided with $20 with which to gamble, played the slots for 30 spins (roughly 5 minutes), and then were provided with an opportunity to continue or discontinue play. The decision to continue play and the number of subsequent chasing spins were the two dependent measures of interest. Males reported higher subjective goals, were more likely to decide to chase, and chased for more spins. Separate multiple logistic and multiple linear regressions were conducted to predict decision to chase and the number of chasing spins among the overall sample and by separate gender analyses. Among the overall sample, male status, degree of subjective goals, and the degree of problem gambling severity were all positively related to decision to chase and chasing spins in preliminary analyses; only male gender remained a significant predictor in both multivariate analyses. Among the female subsample, the degree of subjective goals predicted both forms of chasing behavior in preliminary and multivariate analyses, while problem gambling severity predicted decision to chase in preliminary analyses. Among the male subsample, there were no significant predictors for decision to chase or the number of chasing spins. These results demonstrate that subjective goals may play an important role in chasing behavior, particularly as a discriminating factor among females. The influence of objective goals and loss/win conditions failed to demonstrate relationships with chasing behavior. Implications for responsible gambling, social work policy and practice, and directions for future research will be discussed.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby James Lister
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.