Recent Research in the Socio-Cultural Domain of Gaming and Gambling : an Annotated Bibliography and Critical Overview
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Alberta Gambling Research Institute Alberta Gambling Research Institute 2000-12 Recent research in the socio-cultural domain of gaming and gambling : an annotated bibliography and critical overview McGowan, Virginia; Droessler, Judith; Nixon, Gary; Grimshaw, Misty Alberta Gaming Research Institute http://hdl.handle.net/1880/355 technical report Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca Recent Research In the Socio-Cultural Domain Of Gaming and Gambling: An Annotated Bibliography And Critical Overview Virginia McGowan, Ph.D. Judith Droessler, Ph.D., M.L.I.S. Gary Nixon, Ph.D., C.Psych. Misty Grimshaw School of Health Sciences and University Library The University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, Alberta For The Alberta Gaming Research Institute Edmonton, Alberta December, 2000 Suggested Citation: McGowan, V., Droessler, J., Nixon, G., & Grimshaw, M. (2000). Recent research in the socio-cultural domain of gaming and gambling: An annotated bibliography and critical overview. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Gaming Research Institute. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This annotated bibliography and critical overview of the scientific literature in the socio-cultural domain of gaming and gambling was supported by a grant received from the Alberta Gaming Research Institute (AGRI) in July 2000. Its purpose is to systematically identify and critically analyze the relevant scientific, descriptive, and policy-oriented literature in this area with the aim of providing a resource that will inform future research and development in gaming and gambling studies. Accordingly, this review constitutes a source document on gaming and gambling studies produced in the latter part of the twentieth century in English- and French-speaking countries. Studies are included that examine the distribution and patterning of gaming and gambling among population sub-groups; social structural factors influencing those patterns within the context of traditional and emerging norms, values and beliefs; and social impacts of gaming and gambling. Literature produced between 1980 and 2000 in North America, Europe, and non-European Commonwealth countries is included, as well as (in the critical overview) a summary of gaming and gambling among Blackfoot peoples, as recorded in ethnographic studies available through the electronic version of the Human Relations Area Files (eHRAF). A range of studies representing different methods and disciplines were included as this material was found in both published and unpublished (“grey literature”) forms. Materials were included if they were judged by the project team to comprise a significant contribution to the literature in this domain. Nearly three hundred separate documents were reviewed. A multidisciplinary group comprising professionals and students from health, social, and library science identified an appropriate search and retrieval strategy and collaborated in critical analyses of the literature. Methods and criteria for searching and appraising this literature were developed by the project team or adapted from other sources to ensure the highest standards of scholarship, balance, and expertise. The project team completed these analyses across empirical, descriptive, and theoretical literature that included prevalence (primary and secondary) studies, trend and correlation studies, descriptive and policy studies, ethnographic and other qualitative studies, and studies that focused on First Nations peoples’ experiences. These studies variously examined patterns of gaming and gambling, as well as socio-demographic and cultural variables. Less commonly, the studies tested or developed social science theory related to gaming and gambling. Each item is described in an annotated bibliography and discussed in a synthesis review of the literature that considers temporal patterning of research directions and methods; examines the relative proportion of literature focusing on recreational versus problem or pathological gambling; considers patterns in research design and social impacts; and issues concerning research among First Nations peoples and population sub-groups, such as youth, women, the elderly, marginalized groups, and others. The relative contribution of Canadians in general, and Albertans in particular, to the research literature on gaming and gambling is examined. Finally, issues of methodology and social theory are discussed and future directions for socio-cultural research in this field are proposed. The authors offer suggestions for future research activities. For example, they suggest that future AGRI- sponsored activities address the challenges faced by researchers in dealing with a literature that, although inclusive of a broad range of scientific paradigms and methods, is dominated by social and clinical epidemiology. Moreover, this literature has virtually exploded in quantity during the past five years. Within the epidemiological studies, future prevalence and incidence studies should emphasize prospective and longitudinal research designs. The results of past epidemiological studies need to be replicated and the validity and reliability of screening instruments and rate estimates verified. To monitor i and anticipate trends, as well as to unravel complex relationships among associated behaviours and contexts, appropriate studies designed a priori to explore trends and correlations are needed. There is a particularly urgent need for these studies among special populations such as youth, women, and First Nations peoples. Further, the methodological repertoire of gaming and gambling studies needs to be broadened beyond the hegemony of positivist approaches. Support of qualitative, phenomenological research, for example, will stimulate new questions, deepen our understanding of variables identified through epidemiological methods, and identify new variables and relationships to explore further through population level research. Finally, new epistemologies for the socio-cultural dimensions of gaming and gambling are needed, with greater sophistication in the use and exploration of concepts such as culture and social structure beyond current use. Broadened conceptual approaches will situate gaming and gambling in new thinking that is emerging in contemporary social science, for example, as new forms of imperialism within global cultural patterns, or re-framed in radicalized or marginalized discourses and ethnic epistemologies. Similarly, the non-random nature of socio-demographic patterns of gaming and gambling needs to be explored further, examined cross-culturally, and linked with socio-cultural theory and research methods inclusive of post- structuralist, feminist, and critical theories, among others. As the socio-historical context gives meaning to gaming and gambling, so do the cultures of research define our knowledge of the socio-cultural domain, and its links to other domains. The time has come to broaden, conceptually and methodologically, the models, methods, and interpretations applied to research in this area. ii CONTENTS Annotation # Page # EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i LIST OF TABLES v I. INTRODUCTION 1 A. How to Use the Bibliography 1 B. Methodology and Scope 2 a. Search and Retrieval Strategy 2 b. Critical Appraisal of Literature 4 c. Annotations 4 C. Critical Overview of the Literature 5 a. Introduction 5 b. Research Directions: Temporal Patterns and Methods 6 c. Primary Foci of Studies Examined 8 d. What Have We Learned? 9 e. What Do the Published Researchers Recommend? 14 f. Expanding our knowledge of socio-cultural context: The eHRAF and museum collections as alternate sources of information 15 g. Implications for Managing the Scientific Literature in the Socio-cultural Domain of Gaming and Gambling 18 h. Implications for Counselling, Treatment, and Associated Research 18 i. The Future? 19 j. Final Thoughts ….. 20 k. References Cited for Critical Overview 20 II. ANNOTATIONS 22 A. Literature Reviews 001-021, 129, 130, 139 22 B. Prevalence and Incidence Studies 33 a. Primary 022-119, 146, 195, 264 33 b. Secondary 086, 120-141, 228 78 C. Trend Studies 095, 142-149 89 D. Correlation Studies 034, 058, 066, 081, 112, 93 150-210 E. Descriptive and Policy Studies 125, 211-229, 251 128 F. Ethnographic and Other Qualitative Studies 230-246, 258 136 G. Studies Concerning First Nations Peoples 010, 018, 021, 027, 085, 145 086, 089, 099, 100, 133, 145, 222, 237, 247-264 III. REFERENCES CITED 162 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 178 SUBJECT INDEX 179 AUTHOR INDEX 188 iii APPENDICES A. Criteria for Critical Appraisal 192 B. Review Matrices for Annotated References, Literature Reviews, and Prevalence/Incidence Studies 195 C. References Retrieved, Not Annotated 212 iv LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Bibliographic and paper indexes searches Table 2 Summary of research trends by type of study in the socio-cultural domain of gaminig and gambling, 1980 to 2000 Table 3 Primary foci of gaming and gambling studies in the socio-cultural domain by type of study, 1980 to 2000 Table 4 Prevalence rate estimates among adults (representative population samples) for ever- gambled and problem or pathological gambling (1980 to 2000) Table 5 Prevalence rate estimates among children and youth for ever-gambled and problem or pathological gambling (1980 to 2000) Table 6 Prevalence rate estimates among Native American (First Nations) adults and youth for ever-gambled and problem or pathological gambling (1980 to 2000) Table 7 Prevalence rate estimates among adults in treatment or institution for ever-gambled and