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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