title: The Role of Differential outcomes on Gambling Behaviour

authors: Staples, Krystal Nell

subjects: Gambling

abstract: This research is based on the conduction of a series of experiments that systematically occurred based on participants performance on a gambling simulation. In Experiment 1, a Roulette simulation allowed the manipulation of the probability that a win would occur after a bet on red or black. First year psychology students (N=18) participated for extra course credit and were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions (Group 1a started with $100 credit, experienced 70% probability of a win on red and 10% probability of a win on black with red and black results being drawn evenly; Group 2a experienced the same conditions as Group 1a except for a higher starting credit of $500; Group 1c started with $500 credit, experienced 100% probability of a win on red and a 0% probability of a win on black with red and black numbers being drawn equally). Results showed that the majority of participants did not match betting behaviour to reinforcement outcomes. In Experiment 2 the simulation was simplified. Group 2a experienced 70% probability of a win on red and 10% probability of a win on black with both red and black numbers being drawn equally; Group 2b experienced 100% probability of a win on red and 0% probability on black with 90% of numbers drawn by the computer being red and 10% black; Group 2c had 75% probability of winning on red and 25% probability of a win on black with 75% of results drawn being red and 25% being black. Results show that participants gambling behaviour was roughly proportional to the amount of reinforcement received on each colour, demonstrating reinforcer control over participant‟s behaviour, so called matching. These differing results are then discussed in relation to the possible implications for future research.

text: The Role of Differential outcomes on Gambling Behaviour This research is based on the conduction of a series of experiments that systematically occurred based on participants performance on a gambling simulation. In Experiment 1, a Roulette simulation allowed the manipulation of the probability that a win would occur after a bet on red or black. First year psychology students (N=18) participated for extra course credit and were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions (Group 1a started with $100 credit, experienced 70% probability of a win on red and 10% probability of a win on black with red and black results being drawn evenly; Group 2a experienced the same conditions as Group 1a except for a higher starting credit of $500; Group 1c started with $500 credit, experienced 100% probability of a win on red and a 0% probability of a win on black with red and black numbers being drawn equally). Results showed that the majority of participants did not match betting behaviour to reinforcement outcomes. In Experiment 2 the simulation was simplified. Group 2a experienced 70% probability of a win on red and 10% probability of a win on black with both red and black numbers being drawn equally; Group 2b experienced 100% probability of a win on red and 0% probability on black with 90% of numbers drawn by the computer being red and 10% black; Group 2c had 75% probability of winning on red and 25% probability of a win on black with 75% of results drawn being red and 25% being black. Results show that participants gambling behaviour was roughly proportional to the amount of reinforcement received on each colour, demonstrating reinforcer control over participant‟s behaviour, so called matching. These differing results are then discussed in relation to the possible implications for future research.

year: 2012

title: Using the Implicit Relational Assesment Procedure (IRAP): Implicit Attitudes and Materialism

authors: Lim, Stefan Xien Chien

subjects: IRAP

abstract: Advertising may reinforce brief and immediate relational responses (BIRRS) of correspondence between “happiness” and “material wealth.” My research looked into the possibility of changing BIRRs associated with materialism through 10 minutes of training prior to taking the IRAP. I hypothesised that participants can become more or less materialistic through reinforcement of materialistic or anti-materialistic relational responding. Eighty-four participants were assigned to one of three groups, Materialistic, Anti-Materialistic, or Control, and received relevant training followed by an Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) and Materials Value Scale (MVS) survey. The IRAP was used to measure response latencies when individuals responded to pairs of stimuli consistent (e.g., happy/luxury) or inconsistent (e.g., happy/cheap) with materialistic attitudes. The MVS is a survey intended to measure materialism. Results showed that participants were faster to respond materialistically than they were to respond anti-materialistically, regardless of the type of training that they received. Regression analysis showed that participants who completed more Anti-Materialistic training blocks were predicted to score higher on the MVS. I concluded that, 10 minutes of training was not sufficient to affect BIRRs associated with materialism. Moreover, the results indicate that the relational network associated with “being materialistic” is complex and that there is not a clear “opposite” of materialism. 

Experiment 2 was a focus group, designed to investigate participant’s thoughts regarding the stimuli used in Experiment 1. Participants from Experiment 1 were invited back for focus group sessions. The key findings from the focus group was that the stimuli used in Experiment 1 was not fully reflective of Anti-Materialism and the lack of context during the IRAP compounded into a different interpretation of “Anti-Materialism” for the participants. There is more to Anti-Materialism than the direct opposite of Materialism

text: Using the Implicit Relational Assesment Procedure (IRAP): Implicit Attitudes and Materialism Advertising may reinforce brief and immediate relational responses (BIRRS) of correspondence between “happiness” and “material wealth.” My research looked into the possibility of changing BIRRs associated with materialism through 10 minutes of training prior to taking the IRAP. I hypothesised that participants can become more or less materialistic through reinforcement of materialistic or anti-materialistic relational responding. Eighty-four participants were assigned to one of three groups, Materialistic, Anti-Materialistic, or Control, and received relevant training followed by an Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) and Materials Value Scale (MVS) survey. The IRAP was used to measure response latencies when individuals responded to pairs of stimuli consistent (e.g., happy/luxury) or inconsistent (e.g., happy/cheap) with materialistic attitudes. The MVS is a survey intended to measure materialism. Results showed that participants were faster to respond materialistically than they were to respond anti-materialistically, regardless of the type of training that they received. Regression analysis showed that participants who completed more Anti-Materialistic training blocks were predicted to score higher on the MVS. I concluded that, 10 minutes of training was not sufficient to affect BIRRs associated with materialism. Moreover, the results indicate that the relational network associated with “being materialistic” is complex and that there is not a clear “opposite” of materialism. 

Experiment 2 was a focus group, designed to investigate participant’s thoughts regarding the stimuli used in Experiment 1. Participants from Experiment 1 were invited back for focus group sessions. The key findings from the focus group was that the stimuli used in Experiment 1 was not fully reflective of Anti-Materialism and the lack of context during the IRAP compounded into a different interpretation of “Anti-Materialism” for the participants. There is more to Anti-Materialism than the direct opposite of Materialism

year: 2016

title: Recognition and indigenizing official statistics: Reflections from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia

authors: Kukutai, Tahu

subjects: Indigenou

abstract: In First World colonised nations such as Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, population statistics form the evidentiary base for how Indigenous peoples are known and `managed' through state policy approaches. Yet, population statistics are not a neutral counting. Decisions of what and how to count reflect particular assumptions about Indigenous identity, ways of life and wellbeing. More often than not, the requirements and priorities of government take precedence over the informational needs and priorities of Indigenous communities. Whereas National Statistics Offices (NSOs) once rendered Indigenous peoples invisible in official statistics through non-recognition, the more pressing problem in the 21st century is that of misrecognition. In seeking to move beyond statistical misrecognition, we propose a set of guiding principles for bringing government reporting frameworks and Indigenous concepts of identity and wellbeing into closer proximity. We argue that a principled approach to collecting, disseminating and analysing Indigenous data not only avoids misrecognising Indigenous peoples but enhances the functionality of official statistics for Indigenous peoples and NSOs alike.

text: Recognition and indigenizing official statistics: Reflections from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia In First World colonised nations such as Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, population statistics form the evidentiary base for how Indigenous peoples are known and `managed' through state policy approaches. Yet, population statistics are not a neutral counting. Decisions of what and how to count reflect particular assumptions about Indigenous identity, ways of life and wellbeing. More often than not, the requirements and priorities of government take precedence over the informational needs and priorities of Indigenous communities. Whereas National Statistics Offices (NSOs) once rendered Indigenous peoples invisible in official statistics through non-recognition, the more pressing problem in the 21st century is that of misrecognition. In seeking to move beyond statistical misrecognition, we propose a set of guiding principles for bringing government reporting frameworks and Indigenous concepts of identity and wellbeing into closer proximity. We argue that a principled approach to collecting, disseminating and analysing Indigenous data not only avoids misrecognising Indigenous peoples but enhances the functionality of official statistics for Indigenous peoples and NSOs alike.

year: 2015