Applying a Behavioral Economic Framework to the Gambling Behavior of College Students

Identifier

1309

Author

Matthew Thomas Suda

Date

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Psychology

Committee Chair

Andrew Meyers

Abstract

Behavioral economic theory conceptualizes human behavior as the result of allocating behavioral resources to engage in preferred activities. This framework has been applied sparingly to gambling behavior. The present study sought to reveal the important behavioral economic construct of relative reinforcing value for the activity of gambling by manipulating the value of an alternative reinforcer as well as constraining it’s availability in a sample of college students, a population that consistently shows elevated rates of gambling as well as problematic gambling behaviors. Analyses did not support the hypotheses, as gambling’s reinforcing value was not demonstrated by the experimental manipulations. Implications and methodological limitations are discussed.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Recommended Citation

Suda, Matthew Thomas, "Applying a Behavioral Economic Framework to the Gambling Behavior of College Students" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1101.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/1101