Using the Rasch Model to Develop a Revised Gambling Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (GABS) for Use with Male College Student Gamblers

Abstract

Research suggests that an overwhelming majority of college students gamble, with between 2–9% of U.S. students meeting DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling. Despite the prevalence of gambling among college students, accurate and easily implemented methods for the assessment of gambling involvement among college students are lacking. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to establish the psychometric properties of a measure of gambling attitudes and beliefs (GABS) and demonstrate this measure's association with gambling frequency and an established gambling screen among 374 U.S. male college students during 1995–1997. Using techniques based in modern test theory (e.g., Rasch model), we identified a set of 10 items that reliably rank-ordered students in relation to their positive attitudes and beliefs about gambling. Further, the resulting 10 items accounted for variance in gambling behavior beyond that provided by a more standard consequences-based assessment measure. Use of this measure for the improvement of gambling assessment in college students is recommended.

• Problem gambling
• Rasch
• Gambling attitudes
• Student gambling

Resumen

Nuestra investigación indica que una mayoría abrumadora de estudiantes universitarios participan en juegos de azar y que entre el 2% y el 9% de éstos pueden ser catalogados como jugadores patológicos, según el criterio del DSM-IV. A pesar de la prevalencia de jugadores entre estudiantes universitarios, aun no se han desarrollado métodos claros y concisos para evaluar este problema. Por consiguiente el propósito de nuestra investigación fue de establecer las características psicométricas de una medida de actitudes y creencias de jugadores (GABS) y, sobre la base de un estudio de 374 estudiantes universitarios (de sexo masculino), demostrar la asociación de esta medida con la frecuencia de jugar así como con otro [indicador pantalla?] establecido. Usando técnicas basadas en la teoría moderna de juegos, tales como el modelo Rasch, pudimos identificar 10 items que ordenan confiablemente por rango a estudiantes de acuerdo a sus actitudes y creencias hacia el juego. Asimismo, estos 10 items explican mejor la varianza en la tendencia de jugar que otra medida más estandar, basada en medición de consecuencias. Se recomienda el uso de nuestro método para futuras evaluaciones de tendencia de jugar entre estudiantes universitarios.

Résumé

La recherche suggère qu′une majorité écrasante d′étudiants de college participe aux jeux d’argent, y inclu entre 2–9% qui peuvents etre classifiqués comme jouers patologiques selons les critères de DSM IV. En dépit de la haute frequence du jeu entre les étudiants de collège, il manque des méthodes précis et facilement exécutées pour évaluer la tendence aux jeux. Ainsi, le but de l′étude actuelle était d′établir les propriétés psychometriques d′une mesure d′attitudes et croyances de jouers (GABS) et, sur la base d’une enquete de 374 etudiants masculins, démontrer l′association de cette mesure avec la fréquence du jeu [aussi qu’avec une autre variable écran?]. Sur la base des techniques provenantes de la théorie moderne des jeux (par ex., le modèle de Rasch), nous avons identifié une série de 10 points qui classe fiablement les étudiants, commandés’ par rapport a leurs attitudes et croyances positives du jeu. Plus, ces memes dix points ont expliqués la variance dans la tendence au jeu au delà de ce qui a été fournie par une mesure d′évaluation plus standard (basé sur des mesures de consequence). On recommende donc l′utilisation de cette nouvelle mesure pour perfeccioner l′évaluation des tendences aux jeux dárgent parmi les étudiants de college.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David R. Strong

David Strong, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research) in the Brown Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. In addition to psychometric work in clinical assessment of addictive behavior, he also is actively involved in the development of smoking cessation interventions among high-risk populations of adolescents and adults.

Stacey B. Daughters

Stacey Daughters received her M.A. in 2002 and is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Maryland College Park. Ms. Daughters’ research projects involve the examination of factors underlying gambling cessation failure as well as an investigation into the different subtypes of pathological gamblers. She is also working on identifying a behavioral task to identify children exhibiting comorbid ADHD and conduct-related problems.

C. W. Lejuez

Carl Lejuez received his Ph.D. in 2000 from West Virginia University. After serving as faculty in the Brown University School of Medicine and as the Director of Laboratory Research in the Addictions Research Group at Butler Hospital, he joined the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Maryland in 2001.

Robert B. Breen

Bob Breen, Ph.D., N.C.G.C., is a licensed clinical psychologist and a nationally certified gambling counselor. Breen has been concerned with the problem of compulsive gambling for more than 10 years. He has published several articles on the topic and has presented his research at national and international meetings.