OBJECTIVES: This study developed prevalence estimates of gambling-related disorders in the United States and Canada, identified differences in prevalence among population segments, and identified changes in prevalence over the past 20 years METHODS: A meta-analytic strategy was employed to synthesize estimates from 119 prevalence studies This method produced more reliable prevalence rates than were available from any single study RESULTS: Prevalence estimates among samples of adolescents were significantly higher than estimates among samples of adults for both clinical (level 3) and subclinical (level 2) measures of disordered gambling within both lifetime and past-year time frames (eg, 39% vs 16% for lifetime estimates of level 3 gambling) Among adults, prevalence estimates of disordered gambling have increased significantly during the past 20 years CONCLUSIONS: Membership in youth, treatment, or prison population segments is significantly associated with experiencing gambling-related disorders

/pdf/estimating-the-prevalence-of-disordered-gambling-behavior-in-homkgp1ft5.pdf

Estimating the prevalence of disordered gambling behavior in the United States and Canada: a research synthesis.

A student's overall satisfaction with his/her educational experience has traditionally been measured by a simple 'yes or no' question, or with one question assessing the degree of overall satisfaction. Even though this type of question is simple to answer and analyze, students may not thoroughly reflect upon their previous responses within a questionnaire regarding satisfaction with individual educational attributes when asked to assess their overall satisfaction with a university on the basis of a single question. The purpose of this article is to present an alternative approach to measuring student overall satisfaction using a multiple-item weighted gap score analysis approach. The results suggest that this approach may have more diagnostic value to both academics and practitioners.

Student Satisfaction: An alternative approach to assessing this important concept

Background Limited resources coupled with unlimited demand for healthcare mean that decisions have to be made regarding the allocation of scarce resources across competing interventions. Policy documents have advocated the importance of public views as one such criterion. In principle, the elicitation of public values represents a big step forward. However, for the exercise to be worthwhile, useful information must be obtained that is scientifically defensible, whilst decision-makers must be able and willing to use it. Aims and objectives The aim was to identify techniques that could be reasonably used to elicit public views on the provision of healthcare. Hence, the objectives were: (1) to identify research methods with the potential to take account of public views on the delivery of healthcare; (2) to identify criteria for assessing these methods; (3) to assess the methods identified according to the predefined criteria; (4) to assess the importance of public views vis-a-vis other criteria for setting priorities, as judged by a sample of decision-makers; (5) to make recommendations regarding the use of methods and future research. Methods A systematic literature review was carried out to identify methods for eliciting public views. Criteria currently used to evaluate such methods were identified. The methods identified were then evaluated according to predefined criteria. A questionnaire-based survey assessed the relative importance of public views vis-a-vis five other criteria for setting priorities: potential health gain; evidence of clinical effectiveness; budgetary impact; equity of access and health status inequalities; and quality of service. Two techniques were used: choice-based conjoint analysis and allocation of points technique. The questionnaire was sent to 143 participants. A subsample was followed up with a telephone interview. Results The methods identified were classified as quantitative or qualitative. RESULTS - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES: Quantitative techniques, classified as ranking, rating or choice-based approaches, were evaluated according to eight criteria: validity; reproducibility; internal consistency; acceptability to respondents; cost (financial and administrative); theoretical basis; whether the technique offered a constrained choice; and whether the technique provided a strength of preference measure. Regarding ranking exercises, simple ranking exercises have proved popular, but their results are of limited use. The qualitative discriminant process has not been used to date in healthcare, but may be useful. Conjoint analysis ranking exercises did well against the above criteria. A number of rating scales were identified. The visual analogue scale has proved popular within the quality-adjusted life-year paradigm, but lacks constrained choice and may not measure strength of preference. However, conjoint analysis rating scales performed well. Methods identified for eliciting attitudes include Likert scales, the semantic differential technique, and the Guttman scale. These methods provide useful information, but do not consider strength of preference or the importance of different components within a total score. Satisfaction surveys have been frequently used to elicit public opinion. Researchers should ensure that they construct sensitive techniques, despite their limited use, or else use generic techniques where validity has already been established. Service quality (SERVQUAL) appears to be a potentially useful technique and its application should be researched. Three choice-based techniques with a limited application in healthcare are measure of value, the analytical hierarchical process and the allocation of points technique, while those more widely used, and which did well against the predefined criteria, include standard gamble, time trade-off, discrete choice conjoint analysis and willingness to pay. Little methodological work is currently available on the person trade-off. RESULTS - QUALITATIVE TECHNIQUES: Qualitative techniques were classified as either individual or group-based approaches. Individual approaches included one-to-one interviews, dyadic interviews, case study analyses, the Delphi technique and complaints procedures. Group-based methods included focus groups, concept mapping, citizens' juries, consensus panels, public meetings and nominal group techniques. Six assessment criteria were identified: validity; reliability; generalisability; objectivity; acceptability to respondents; and cost. Whilst all the methods have distinct strengths and weaknesses, there is a lot of ambiguity in the literature. Whether to use individual or group methods depends on the specific topic being discussed and the people being asked, but for both it is crucial that the interviewer/moderator remains as objective as possible. The most popular and widely used such methods were one-to-one interviews and focus groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Eliciting public preferences for healthcare: a systematic review of techniques.

In order to attract and retain students, universities must identify and meet student expectations. This article examines which aspects of a student's educational experience are more important in influencing student satisfaction. The findings show that “student centered-ness,” “campus climate,” and “instructional effectiveness,” have a strong impact on how satisfied a student is with his/her overall educational experience. The results also suggest that recruitment strategies may require emphasizing different aspects of a student's educational experience than retentio strategies.

Key Factors Influencing Student Satisfaction Related to Recruitment and Retention

Pathological Gambling: Etiology, Comorbidity, and Treatment examines the prevalence and consequences of problem gambling as well as approaches to treatment. In this comprehensive book, Petry clarifies the current understanding of gambling as a disorder, including its levels of intensity; possible origins in biological, neurological, developmental, and environmental spheres; and special issues surrounding populations that seem to be more susceptible to problem gambling, including youth, ethnic minorities, and those with comorbid affective disorders such as depression. The author reviews treatments commonly used for pathological gambling as well as nonprofessionally guided interventions such as Gamblers Anonymous. Petry then presents her own brief cognitive-behavioral approach, whose success is empirically proven in the largest known study of psychosocial treatments of problem gamblers. Pathological Gambling presents a review of everything currently known about problem gambling as well as promising treatment approaches, making it an invaluable, comprehensive resource for both therapists and researchers in the field.

https://jgi.camh.net/index.php/jgi/article/download/3786/3776

Pathological Gambling: Etiology, Comorbidity, and Treatment

The relationship of self‐monitoring to buying behavior and to the consumer’s value system is controversial and not well understood. The study examined the relationship between self‐monitoring, materialism, and involvement with clothing and brands among a sample of 387 young adults. Constructs were measured with Snyder’s Self‐Monitoring Scale, the Material Values Scale, the Consumer Involvement Profile, and a scale measuring market alienation. Self‐monitoring was positively related to materialism, to clothing involvement, and to interest in marketplace events and brands. Discusses implications for the meaning of self‐monitoring and the use of personality in explaining consumption behavior. Suggests implications for marketing strategy.

Conceptualizing self‐monitoring: links to materialism and product involvement

The present research examined relationships between satisfaction and quality judgments of college services. Students (N = 736) completed a questionnaire (SERVQUAL) to investigate perceived service performance of a university college. At the same time, they were asked about satisfaction with specific aspects of the program offered by the college. Three dependent measures of satisfaction were used: global satisfaction, willingness to recommend the college, and satisfaction with value received from the educational experience. Results indicated that the perceived quality of the educational offering and service quality explained different amounts of the variance in satisfaction. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the relative importance of actual and augmented product characteristics in explaining satisfaction.

Student as Customer: Factors Affecting Satisfaction and Assessments of Institutional Quality

Using content analysis, the author examined sex role stereotyping in television commercials aimed at children in the United States and Australia. The goals of the study were to: (1) provide current data on level and content of gender stereotyping, (2) compare levels of stereotyping in two countries, and (3) assess stereotyping of self-presentational behaviors. Results are consistent with those of previous research in that boys were depicted as being more knowledgeable, active, aggressive, and instrumental than girls. Nonverbal behaviors involving dominance and control were associated more with boys than girls. Country-related differences in ratios of boys to girls in the commercials and demonstrations of licensed withdrawal, function ranking, and utilitarian contact were observed.

Gender Stereotypes in Advertising on Children's Television in the 1990s: A Cross-National Analysis

In this study lottery gambling behavior of 288 American college students was examined. Although most students were infrequent gamblers, we found that student lottery gambling was related to having parents and friends who were lottery gamblers. Students who were frequent lottery gamblers were more likely to participate in other forms of gambling and to have begun gambling at younger ages than less frequent gamblers. Locus of control was related to more frequent gambling among parents and only marginally related to more frequent lottery play among students. Discriminant analysis using parental gambling, peer gambling, games played, sex, and locus of control could predict frequency of lottery playing for 72% of gamblers and nongamblers.

Predictors of Lottery Gambling Among American College Students

This research examined the effects of a break (incubation) on solutions to a geometric insight problem. Experiment 1 showed that subjects receiving an analogical hint during incubation obtained more solutions than continuously working controls. Experiment 2 tested the hypothesis that incubation effects are due to the total time (including intermittant problem solving during incubation) spent on a problem. Subjects given relaxation instructions and no task during a problem-solving break were more successful than those who worked continuously for 20 min or were given demanding mental work as an intervening task. Self-report data supported the explanation that incubation effects are a result of covert effort and that the effectiveness of an analogical hint depends on the solver's ability to relate it to the problem.

Beverly A. Browne

Papers

Conceptualizing self‐monitoring: links to materialism and product involvement

Student as Customer: Factors Affecting Satisfaction and Assessments of Institutional Quality

Gender Stereotypes in Advertising on Children's Television in the 1990s: A Cross-National Analysis

Predictors of Lottery Gambling Among American College Students

The Incubation Effect: Illusion or Illumination?