Griffiths

What year was this study conducted?

1994

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What are Heuristics and how do they link to gambling?

A set of rules for solving problems. Wagenaar suggested that gamblers select them at the wrong occasions.

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What are the 6 most important cognitive distortions?

1. Illusion of control 2. Flexible attributions 3. Representativeness 4. Availability bias 5.Illusory correlations 6. Fixation on absolute frequency.

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What is illusion of control?

The belief we can control random events

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What are flexible attributions?

wins=skill, losses=fluke

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What is representativeness?

belief random events have a pattern

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What is availability bias?

more like to remember wins than losses

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What are illusory correlations?

belief that two variables are related when they are not

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What is fixation on absolute frequency?

when gamblers measure their success using the absolute rather than the relative frequency of wins.

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Aim?

To investigate cognitive bias involved in gambling behaviour.

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3 hypotheses?

1. There would be no difference between RG and NG on objective measures of skill. 2. RG would produce more irrational verbalisations than NG. 3.RG would be more skill-orientated than NG on subjective measures of self-report.

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Sample?

60 participants - 30 RG (once a week), 30 NG (must had used fruit machine before). 44m, 16f. Mean age=23.4 years. All from Exeter in the UK. Self-selecting sample, posters around uni campuses. Some RG's recruited by gambler known by author.

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Design, method, data?

Field study, quasi experiment, independent measures design, both data types.

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IV & DV?

IV= RG or NG DV=objective measures of skill, content of utterances from thinking aloud method, subjective measures of skill perception.

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Procedure? (1)

Ps tested individually, asked to gamble on fruit machine called 'Fruit skill', 10p a go. Ps given £3, so had so 'free' gambles. Ps asked to try and stay on machine for minimum of 60 plays - meaning they had to break even and win back £3.

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Procedure? (2)

If they managed to achieve 60 gambles, could then choose if they wanted to keep any winnings or gamble more. P's objective skill measured by recording behaviour. Skill = ability to affect the outcome of the gambling positively, e.g. more wins/gambles

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Procedure? (3)

Experimenter recorded time spent on machine, total number of gambles, amount of winnings and result of every gamble.

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Procedure? (4)

Irrational verbalisations measured in 'thinking aloud'. RG & NG's randomly assigned to TA or NTA. TA condition=utterances recorded using microphone connected to tape recorder. All utterances transcribed, content analysis done and coding scheme made.

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Procedure? (5)

Post experimental semi-structured interview was carried out to measure subjective opinions of. A number of questions were asked, e.g. participants were asked "Is there any skill involved in playing on fruit machines?"

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What was the thinking aloud condition?

Consisted of Ps verbalising every thought that passes through their minds while playing. Had to: say everything in mind, try and talk continuously, speak clearly, dont hesitate to use fragmented sentences if necessary, don't justify their thoughts.

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What did the coding system created consist of?

30 irrational and rational utterances and a further miscellaneous category (total=31). Examples:Irrational = swearing at machine (You *******), personification of machine. Rational = swearing in general. Miscellaneous = what they will do afterwards.

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Outline the results

14% of RG utterances=irrational, compared to 2.5% of NG. RG mostly personified machine and referred to the 'number system'. No difference in objective measures of skill. In interview, RG more skill oriented than NG. RGs stayed on machine longer.

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Strengths of the study?

Both data types & lots of data collected. Think aloud method useful way of assessing private thoughts. High EV.

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Weaknesses of the study?

low inter-rater reliability. Issues with socially desirability with RG, lied about habits. Self-selecting sample may cause bias in results.

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Ethics?

Gambling not approved of so forcing people to do so may be frowned upon as they may become addicted.

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Get Revising

Griffiths

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