Lay and scientific conceptualizations of impaired control at electronic gambling machines

Abstract

How do experts in the field of gambling and lay people represent the notion of impaired control (IC) on electronic gambling machines? This study included 37 international experts on gambling, 34 non-pathological gamblers and 32 pathological gamblers. Participation took place in the form of focus groups for gamblers and on the Internet for experts. The mixed methodology of concept mapping was used for comparing the representation of IC by the different groups. It relied on multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis. Qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed an important similarity between experts’ and gamblers’ representation of IC. When respondents were asked about IC, they referred essentially to excessive gambling, irrational cognitions surrounding gambling and negative consequences following excessive gambling. Although considered as central in the conceptualization of problem gambling and often relied upon in clinical practice, IC is not a straightforward and unidimensional concept. Therefore, it needs to be explicitly operationalized and clearly articulated when used in research.