NCJ Number
12436
Date Published
1956
Length
105 pages
Annotation
DETERMINATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF 'GAMBLING PRONENESS' AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE AMBIGUITY OF THE SITUATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EXAMINATION TO THE SUBJECT.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DURING THE FALL SEMESTER 1953-54. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF THE STUDENTS IN AN INTERMEDIATE PSYCHOLOGY CLASS. FOUR MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMS, EACH WITH THIRTY TO THIRTY-THREE QUESTIONS, WERE GIVEN DURING THE SEMESTER. AN UNCONVENTIONAL METHOD OF ADMINISTERING AND SCORING THE EXAMS WAS EMPLOYED. THIS METHOD PERMITTED THE STUDENTS TO UTILIZE PARTIAL KNOWLEDGE, AS WELL AS COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE, AND IMPOSED A 'HEAVY' PENALTY FOR GAMBLING. THE EXAMINATION RESULTS AFFORDED THE BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 'GAMBLING INDICES' WHICH WERE USED AS THE MEASURE OF GAMBLING PRONENESS. THE REPETITION OF THE INDICES (CLASSIFIED INTO LOW, MIDDLE, AND HIGH GAMBLE CATEGORIES) FROM EXAM TO EXAM AND OVER THE SEMESTER WAS THE PRIMARY INDICATOR OF THE EXISTENCE OF A PERSONALITY VARIABLE. THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THESE GAMBLING INDICES TO LEVELS OF EXPECTATION SERVED AS SECONDARY EVIDENCE. THE UNFAMILIARITY OF THE STUDENTS WITH THIS TYPE OF EXAM AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE THE INFLUENCE OF AMBIGUITY ON THE EXPRESSION OF THE PERSONALITY VARIABLE. THE LONGITUDINAL ASPECT OF THE STUDY, FOUR EXAMS OVER A SIXTEEN WEEK SEMESTER, PERMITTED INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF IMPORTANCE. THE MAJOR CONCLUSIONS WERE - (1) A PERSONALITY VARIABLE, GAMBLING PRONESS, DOES EXIST AND IT CAN BE MEASURED BY THE USE OF GAMBLING INDICES, AND (2) AMBIGUITY AND IMPORTANCE INFLUENCE THE EXPRESSION OF THE PERSONALITY VARIABLE, WHEREAS REWARD AND PUNISHMENT DO NOT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)