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The Validity and Reliability of Four Measures of Gambling Behaviour in a Sample of Singapore University Students

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Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of measures for detecting problem gamblers for use with university students in a Singapore context. The four instruments commonly used in gambling research, the DSM-IV, GA-20, SOGS and CPGI were administered to a sample of students (n = 193) from a representative cross section of faculties from one university. The CPGI was found to be the most reliable (α = 0.922) and valid in terms of construct validity as demonstrated by factor analysis. Despite being a lengthy instrument it is recommended that future studies such as randomized controlled trials of problem gambling interventions in Singapore adopt a modified version of the CPGI, made simpler and easier to use with fewer items and more appropriate terminology.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support came from Cross-Faculty Research Grant approved by National University of Singapore. The research team would like to thank Dr. Tony Chan Moon Fai (BSc, PhD, CStat, Assistant Professor of School of the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore) for his advice on statistical analysis. The research team would also like to express gratitude to Ms Jean Thng of ALCNS (Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore) for her assistance in recruiting some of the participants, and as well as to the students who participated in this research.

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Correspondence to David Arthur.

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W. L. Tong, C. P. Chen, M. Sagara-Rosemeyer—in post during first submission of manuscript.

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Arthur, D., Tong, W.L., Chen, C.P. et al. The Validity and Reliability of Four Measures of Gambling Behaviour in a Sample of Singapore University Students. J Gambl Stud 24, 451–462 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-008-9103-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-008-9103-y

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