Comparison of telephone RDD and online panel survey modes on CPGI scores and co-morbidities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of two survey modes – telephone random digit dialling (RDD) and stratified sampling of an online panel – on Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) scores and co-morbidities. An identical gambling survey was administered to 4000 South Koreans selected via random dialling of cell phone numbers and to 4330 South Korean members of an online panel. The online panelists were found to have significantly higher levels of tobacco use, drug or alcohol problems and mental health problems, higher employment status and lower happiness levels. However, even when controlling for these variables, CPGI scores for the online panel were significantly higher than those for the telephone interview. This appears to be due to higher levels of pathology among online panelists combined with potentially more valid self-reports due to enhanced anonymity.

Keywords::

• online panel
• telephone survey
• CPGI scores
• ANCOVA

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Alberta Gambling Research Institute for its funding of this research project, the staff at Embrain for their skillful administration of the surveys, and anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

Conflicts of interest

Funding sources: This research was funded by the Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI).

Competing interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. None of the authors has any direct or indirect ties (financial or otherwise) to telephone or online panel survey companies.

Constraints on publishing

AGRI had no role in the research design, methodology, conduct, analysis or write-up, and did not need to be consulted prior to publishing.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Choong-Ki Lee

Choong-Ki Lee is a professor at the College of Hotel and Tourism Management at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea. His research area includes responsible gambling, gambling motivation, gambling passion and gambling policy.

Ki-Joon Back

Ki-Joon Back is a professor at the C. N. Hilton College at University of Houston, USA. His research area includes gambling motivation, gambling passion, gambling policy and hotel marketing.

Robert J. Williams

Robert J. Williams is a professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. His research area involves all aspects of gambling.

Sung-Sik Ahn

Sung-Sik Ahn is an assistant professor in the Department of Food Service and Agri-Business Management at Kyung Hee Cyber University. His research area includes statistics, research method and medical management.