Gambling and young people in Australia: research purposes and design

Dr Phillip McKenzieAustralian Council for Educational Research

Gambling and Young People in Australia: Research Purposes and

Design

Presentation to the Forum “The New Game: Emerging Technology and Responsible

Gambling”

MCG, Melbourne, 23 May 2011

Phillip McKenzie

Background

• The study was commissioned by the Victorian Department of Justice on behalf of Gambling Research Australia (GRA)

• Conducted by ACER with the assistance of Wallis Consulting

• Led by Dr Nola Purdie

The first large-scale national study in Australia of young people and gambling

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Purposes

1. Describe the current gambling behaviour of young people

2. Describe the context in which gambling occurs, including the presence of other risk-taking behaviours

3. Analyse the extent to which gambling is similar to other risk-taking behaviours

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Purposes (contd.)

4. Determine at what levels and in what forms gambling becomes problematic

5. Identify differences between young people who become problem gamblers and those who do not develop a problem

6. Determine possible risk inhibitors and risk enhancers relevant to gambling for young people

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Definition of problem gambling

The project brief required the following definition to be used:

“Problem gambling is characterised by difficulties in limiting money and/or time spent on gambling, which leads to adverse consequences for the gambler, others or for the community”

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Scope of activities examined

Wagering and gaming activities undertaken by young people, including:

• commercial forms of gambling

• interactive gambling that may include use of various forms of ICT

• non-commercial forms of gambling played in private, non-commercial venues

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Age range examined

10 to 24 year-olds

Involved:

• A school-based sample 10 to 17 year-olds

• Non-school based sample 18 to 24 year-olds

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Literature review

Used to develop the data collection and inform interpretation of the results:

• nature and attraction of gambling for young people

• contexts of their gambling

• extent of participation in gambling

• Prevalence & correlates of problem gambling

• gambling risk inhibitors and enhancers9

Data collection

• Survey forms with large national samples:

− School sample: hard-copy & on-line forms

− Non-School sample: CATI & on-line forms

• Focus groups with convenience samples in a small number of Vic and NSW schools

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Survey content & structure

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Section Focus No. questions

About you Socio-demographic background

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About your activities Extent of participation over the past 12 months

1 (24 items)

About gambling & you

Whether participated in various gambling activities

16 (YES / NO)

About other people & gambling

Whether others they know gamble too much

1 (8 items)

What do you think about gambling

Attitudes to gambling 1 (10 items)

Other activities & advertising

Risk-taking behavioursSeen gambling advertising in past year

1 (10 items)1 (11 items)

Survey content (contd.)

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Section Focus No. questions

How do you feel Self perceptions 1 (10 items)

About work & money Sources of incomeEmployment (if aged >14)

1 (6 items)4

Contact details Possible follow-up 4

Achieved survey sample

Age In school Non-school Total

10-14 1 518 0 1 518

15-17 1 390 158 1 551

18-24 107 2 764 2 881

3 017 2 932 5 977

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Note: sub-totals may not sum to totals due to a small amount of missing data.

Data cautions

High degree of school non-participation

• survey burden on schools

• need for ‘active’ parental consent

• sensitive questionnaire material

Recruitment problems in non-school sample

• identifying and making contact

• unwillingness to take part

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Data analyses

Survey data

• Weighting of the data

• Descriptive statistics

• Multivariate analyses (structural equation modelling)

Focus group data

• Descriptive analyses based on grounded theory

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Report preparation

• Progress reports and meetings

• Drafts circulated to Expert Reference Group established by ACER

• Drafts circulated by GRA for stakeholder comment

• Report drafted by Nola Purdie, Kylie Hillman, Clare Ozolins, Gabrielle Matters & Karen Harris

• Report currently being finalised in light of feedback

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